Premium
Localization of lead in rat peripheral nerve by electron microscopy
Author(s) -
Windebank Anthony J.,
Dyck Peter James
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410180206
Subject(s) - electron microscope , peripheral nerve , lead (geology) , pathology , neuroscience , anatomy , medicine , materials science , biology , physics , optics , paleontology
Lead intoxication in rats reliably produces segmental demyelination. Following a single intravenous injection of radioactive lead, localization of tracer was observed sequentially by quantitative electron microscopical autoradiog‐raphy. The animals injected had been on a lead‐containing diet for 70 days; as a result, the blood‐nerve barrier was broken down and demyelination was proceeding. Six hours after a single dose, the lead was localized to the endoneurial space of the peroneal nerve, and 72 hours later, to the myelin membrane. Lead may exert a direct effect on the membrane and alter its stability both by altering the lipid content of the membrane and by directly interfering with the lamellar structure.