Regional potassium distribution in the brain in forensic relevant types of intoxication preliminary morphometric evaluation using a histochemical method.
A histochemical-morphometric method was used to measure potassium (K+) levels in gray and white matter of rats following sublethal intoxication with 11 different neurotoxic compounds of high forensic significance. Six rats were each given a single substance applied intraperitoneally, the same dosage being given to two animals each. The animals were subsequently killed, the brains immediately frozen, and cryosections cut. K+ levels were evaluated morphometrically. A drop in K+ levels was used as the criterion for cytotoxic edema. Application of ethanol, atropine, carbromal, carbon monoxide, morphine or triethyltin led to a rise in K+ levels in the gray matter and a simultaneous decline in the white matter. By contrast, administration of amitriptyline, glycerin, potassium cyanide, parathion or phenobarbital initiated an increase in K+ levels in both gray and white matter. A cytotoxic edema could thus be reliably excluded in these intoxications. Although the study design allows no statistical analysis, these conclusions are supported by the marked differences in K+ levels in gray and white matter induced by the different toxicants.
Oehmichen
M
M
Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Lübeck, Germany. oehmich@rmed.mu-luebeck.de
Ochs
U
U
Meissner
C
C
D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D011188:Potassium