A morphological and functional assessment of Mycobacterium leprae-induced nerve damage in a guinea-pig model of leprous neuritis.
Nerve damage, resembling that caused by Mycobacterium leprae in man, was created by the injection of cobalt-irradiated M. leprae organisms into the tibial nerve of guinea-pigs. Assessment of nerve damage was made by clinical, electrophysiological and morphometric means at intervals up to 13 weeks after injection. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of neuropeptide-containing fibres in the skin of the foot was also carried out. Significant nerve damage occurred 3 weeks after injection of M. leprae organisms. Motor and sensory functional loss peaked at 5 weeks after injection, and there was a significant decrease of peptide-immunoreactive nerves in all skin compartments. The nerve damage was self-limiting and functional recovery had occurred by 13 weeks. The model shows many of the features found in the nerve damage of treated leprosy patients.
de Blaquière
G E
GE
Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons of England, London.
Santamaria
L
L
Curtis
J
J
Terenghi
G
G
Polak
J M
JM
Turk
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D009479:Neuropeptides