Summary
Intramuscular nerves in the anterior tibial muscle of rats with carbon disulphide (CS2)-induced polyneuropathy were studied ultrastructurally and after histochemical demonstration of non-specific cholinesterase (Ns. ChE; E.C.3.1.1.8) activity.
After 5 weeks' exposure to CS2 the intramuscular nerves showed occasional weak Ns. ChE activity, which did not appear in the normal intramuscular nerves. Axoplasmic ultrastructure was normal in the majority of the nerves. After 5 months' exposure to CS2 there was intense Ns. ChE activity along intrauscular nerve trunks. The axoplasm of the nerves showed marked degeneration: distended smooth-surfaced vacuoles, dense bodies, disappearance of neurotubules and appearance of increased amounts of neurofilaments.
The present findings suggest that histochemical demonstration of Ns. ChE activity can be employed as an indicator of early axonal degeneration in progressive polyneuropathy.
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Juntunen, J., Haltia, M. & Linnoila, I. Histochemically demonstrable non-specific cholinesterase as an indicator of peripheral nerve lesion in carbon disulphide-induced polyneuropathy. Acta Neuropathol 29, 361–366 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685489
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00685489