Jd. Schionning et Jo. Larsen, A STEREOLOGICAL STUDY OF DORSAL-ROOT GANGLION-CELLS AND NERVE ROOT FIBERS FROM RATS TREATED WITH INORGANIC MERCURY, Acta Neuropathologica, 94(3), 1997, pp. 280-286
Unbiased stereological methods have been used to quantify the effects
of inorganic mercury on the morphology of the fifth lumbar dorsal root
ganglion cells and nerve mot fibers. Adult male Wistar rats were trea
ted with intraperitoneal injections of mercuric chloride (0.15 mg dail
y) for 30 days. The total numbers and mean volumes of A-and B-cell per
ikarya were estimated using the optical fractionator and the vertical
rotator techniques. The total numbers of myelinated axons in the ventr
al and the dorsal roots were estimated with the two-dimensional fracti
onator technique and the areas of axon and myelin were estimated using
the two-dimensional nucleator technique. No differences were found fo
r any parameters in experimental and control animals, indicating that
inorganic mercury intoxication alters neither the numbers or sizes of
dorsal root ganglion cells and nerve root fibers nor the amount of mye
lin associated with the nerve fibers.