Toxic action of 2'-chloro-2,4-dinitro-5',6-di(trifluoromethyl) diphenylamine in the rat

Chemically Induced Myelinopathies

The diverse, structurally unrelated chemicals that cause toxic myelinopathies have been investigated and can be categorized into two types of primary demyelinators. Some demyelinating chemicals seem to leave intact the myeli-nating cells (oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system), while others damage the myelinating cells as well as the myelin. The significance between the two is that with the myelinating cells still in tact, repair of the myelin sheath can occur. However, if the myelinating cells are destroyed, repair and reversal of the neuropathy may not occur. Histologically, these chemicals produce an edema of the white matter of the brain, and in some cases the peripheral nervous system, that appears spongy by light microscopy. By electron microscopy, vacuoles can be seen in the myelin surrounding axons. These vacuoles are characterized as fluid-filled separations (splitting) of myelin lamellae at the intraperiod line. In some cases these vacuoles can degenerate further to full demyelination, affecting conduction through those axons. Regeneration of the myelin layers can occur, and in some cases occurs at the same time other axons are undergoing toxic demyelination. Several of these chemicals, however, have been shown to increase cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord, and/or intraneuronal pressure in the perineurium surrounding the axons in the peripheral nervous system. This increased pressure has been correlated with decreased conduction capacity through the axon, ischemia to the neuronal tissue from decreased blood flow because of pressure against the blood vessels, and, if unrelieved, permanent axonal damage. Several of these chemicals havebeen shown to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation, while others uncouple oxidative phosphorylation. One chemical appears to inhibit an enzyme critical to cholesterol synthesis, thus destabilizing myelin. Another hypothesis for a mechanism of action may be in the ability of these compounds to alter membrane permeability.

The toxicity and neuropathology of 2,4,5-tribromoimidazole and its derivatives in rats

2,4,5-tribromoimidazole and its 1-n-butylcarboxylate and 1-dimethylcarbamoyl derivatives, when administered to rats, induced poisoning typical of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. At 48 h rats surviving a single toxic dose of 20-60 mg/kg developed permanent incoordination of the hindlimbs in the absence of brain oedema. Neuropathologic examination of brain and spinal cord from perfused fixed rats at 24 h revealed neuronal necrosis and chromatolysis in the vestibular nucleus, the outer parietal neocortex and red nucleus. Chromatolysis and necrosis in these areas had increased at 72-96 h and were also observed in the deeper layers of the neocortex, the medial entorhinal cortex, the reticular formation, the grey matter of the spinal cord extending into the ventral horns, the dorsal, and ventral cochlear nuclei and the deep cerebellar nuclei, in decreasing order of severity. Neuronal necrosis was accompanied by an increased glial response, including neuronophagia and at 16 days with astroglial hypertrophy and hyperplasia.