Neuronal degeneration and lipopigment formation in rat sympathetic ganglion after treatment with high-dose guanethidine.
Degenerative changes in the rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) were studied 3 months after treatment with a high-dose of guanethidine using microspectrofluorometry and electron microscopy. The density of the SCG neurons was decreased by 30% and by 60% following 1 and 2 weeks treatment respectively with guanethidine. Intraneuronal lipopigments were increased after the treatment, whereas cytoplasmic catecholamines were decreased. Electron microscopy revealed swollen mitochondria and a novel type of lipo-pigment in surviving neurons. The number and structure of small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells remained unchanged after the treatment. The results suggest that accelerated lipid peroxidation processes might be involved in guanethidine neurotoxicity and that intraneuronal concentrations of catecholamines may be related to this toxicity.
Koistinaho
J
J
Department of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland.
Hervonen
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005470:Fluorometry; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors
D002395:Catecholamines; D008055:Lipids; D010860:Pigments, Biological; C051596:lipopigments; D006145:Guanethidine