Neuronal damage produced in rat brains by Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin

This paper reports neuronal changes in rat brains subacutely intoxicated wi th Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin. Neuronal damage was charac terized by either (1) progressive cytoplasmic vacuolation leading to necros is, or (2) shrunken hyperchromatic cells with nuclear pyknosis. The neurona l injury was also often bilaterally symmetrical, particularly in the brains tem. These findings suggest that, after gaining access to brain tissue by p roducing an increase in vascular permeability, epsilon toxin later exerts a directly cytotoxic effect on neurons. (C) 1999 W.B. Saunders Company Limit ed.