Regional potassium distribution in the brain in forensic relevant types ofintoxication preliminary morphometric evaluation using a histochemical method

A histochemical-morphometric method was used to measure potassium (K+) leve ls in gray and white matter of rats following sublethal intoxication with I I different neurotoxic compounds of high forensic significance. Six mts wer e each given a single substance applied intraperitoneally, the same dosage being given To two animals each. The animals,were subsequently killed the b rains immediately frozen, and cryosections cut. K+ levels were evaluated mo rphometrically. A drop in K+ levels was used as the criterion for, cytotoxi c edema. Application of ethanol, atropine, carbromal, carbon monoxide, morp hine or triethyltin led to a rise in K+ levels in the gray matter and a sim ultaneous decline in the white matter By contrast, administration of amitri ptyline, glycerin, potassium cyanide, parathion or phenoarbital initiated a n increase in K+ levels in both gray and white matter: 4 cytotoxic edema co uld thus be reliably excluded in these intoxications. Although the study de sign allows no statistical analysis, these conclusions are supported by the marked differences in K+ levels in gray and white matter induced hp the di fferent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.