NEUROPATHOLOGY OF MOUSE HIPPOCAMPUS IN ACUTE TRIMETHYLTIN INTOXICATION

Abstract

BALB/c mice were injected i.p. with a single dose of trimethyltin chloride (3.0 mg TMT/kg body wt). Severe body tremor was observed within 12 h postinjection. All animals were sacrificed 48 h postinjection by intracardial perfusion with 2.5% buffered glutaraldehyde. Light microscopic examination revealed extensive neuronal necrosis in the granule cells of the fascia dentata of the hippocampus. No significant morphological changes were observed in the pyramidal neurons (Ammon''s horn) of the hippocampus. Scattered neuronal loss was also observed in the pyriform cortex, the neocortex, amygdaloid nucleus and the brainstem. EM examination of the hippocampus revealed lysosomal accumulation in the granule cells and pyramidal neurons. While extensive cellular necrosis was observed in the granule cells, the pyramidal neurons only displayed some dilatation and vacuolation of their endoplasmic reticulum. This report represented the 1st in depth pathological study in the mouse hippocampus following an acute exposure to TMT.