Reversible Schwann cell hypertrophy in lead neuropathy.
Schwann cell hypertrophy is an early change observed in lead-induced neuropathy in the rat. In order to quantify this cell hypertrophy, a morphometric analysis of Schwann cell cytoplasmic and nuclear areas and their relationship to the cross-sectional area of the associated myelinated fibre was performed. The study was carried out on sural and peroneal nerves from three groups of adult rats. Group I was intoxicated with 4% lead acetate in the drinking water for 6 weeks; group II animals were treated as in group I and then restored to standard laboratory conditions for 30 days; and group III were controls. The results showed that: (a) after 6 weeks of lead exposure, cytoplasmic and nuclear areas were significantly greater in intoxicated, compared with control rats; (b) after 30 days recovery, Schwann cell cytoplasmic and nuclear areas did not differ from control rats.
Monton
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F
Section of Neurology, Hospital N.S. Candelaria, Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands.
Coria
F
F
D000818:Animals; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000139:chemically induced; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000473:pathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology