Acta neuropathologica
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Acta neuropathologica · Jun 2002
Neuronal degeneration and glial cell-responses following trimethyltin intoxication in the rat.
Trimethyltin (TMT) preferentially induces neuronal changes in the hippocampus and pyriform cortex. In the present study we investigated the time course of microglial and astroglial responses associated with neurodegeneration after the administration of TMT (i.p. 9 mg/kg or 12 mg/kg body weight) in the rat. At a dosage of 9 mg/kg TMT, neurodegeneration was clearly demonstrated in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus as argyrophilic (dark) neurons by day 4 using the Gallyas-Braak (G-B) impregnation method that has been shown to be sensitive and specific for neurodegeneration. ⋯ The number of reactive microglia considerably decreased to the resting state by day 14, while hypertrophied astrocytes were still prominent in the CA3 up to day 21. With the high dose of TMT, granule cells in the dentate gyrus and CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells were significantly impregnated. After TMT treatment, accompaning neurodegeneration we observed early response of microglia and prolonged activation of astrocytes, suggesting an individual role of glial cells in maintenance and repair of damaged neurons following brain injury.