Alterations of dendritic spines following intoxication by mercury phenylacetate.
A morphological study of the effect of mercury phenylacetate (MPA) given intragastrically at a dose of either 0.1 or 0.05 g for 10 and 30 days respectively, on dendritic spines in the parietal cortex of the recipient rats was performed. Ingestion of MPA induced considerable losses as well as nodular deformation of dendritic spines in the investigated cortical region. The effect of MPA intoxication demonstrated in this study is discussed with respect ot histoenzymic observations made in another study on rats similarly intoxicated, in which a considerable drop of AChE activity in the cortical neuropil was demonstrated. It is concluded that the induced by MPA intoxication in dendritic spines, which constitute an integral part of the synaptic structures may be responsible for the observed decline of AChE activity in this experimental poisoning.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000818:Animals; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D010662:Phenylmercuric Acetate; D051381:Rats
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D010662:Phenylmercuric Acetate