TRIMETHYLTIN-INDUCED CHANGES IN GROSS MORPHOLOGY OF THE HIPPOCAMPUS

Abstract

Acute exposure to trimethyltin (TMT) produces alteration in hippocampal morphology. The purpose of this study was to arrive at a simple method for quantitative assessement of the gross changes in morphology which could be used as a correlate in studies of TMT toxicity. Adult Long-Evans male hooded rats were treated with a single dose of TMT chloride and sacrificed within 11 days, following 30 days or 105 days following treatment. Among a variety of morphological measures explored, the easiest and most clearly dosage-related was length of the line of pyramidal cells, from Ca1-CA3c. TMT shortened this line in a dosage- and time-dependent manner. Loss of cells appeared to begin in CA3c and progressed through CA3b and CA3a as dosage and time since treatment increased. This measurement may provide a useful morphological correlate for physiological and behavioral studies of TMT toxicity.