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The neurotoxicity of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate in the rabbit

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Summary

The development of the lesion caused by NDDC in the CNS of adult rabbits was studied by killing rabbits receiving NDDC at 6 week intervals. The first changes were seen at 6 weeks in the accessory cuneate nucleus and in Clarke's column. 12 weeks later degenerative changes were seen in the spinocerebellar tracts in the cerebellum, medulla. The rabbits killed after 24 weeks showed severe nerve fibre degeneration in the peripheral white matter of the spinal cord. Changes in peripheral nerves were minimal. This “neuraxonal degeneration” is discussed in relation to similar changes seen in human and animal neuropathology.

Zusammenfassung

Die Entwicklung der durch Natrium-Diäthyldithiocarbamat (NDDC) im ZNS erwachsener Ratten verursachten Läsionen wurden an Tieren untersucht, die in sechswöchigen Intervallen NDDC erhalten hatten. Die ersten Veränderungen fanden sich nach 6 Wochen im Nucl. cuneatus accessorius und in der Clarkeschen Säule. 12 Wochen später fanden sich degenerative Veränderungen in den spinocerebellaren Bahnen von Kleinhirn und Medulla. Die nach 24 Wochen getöteten Kaninchen zeigten schwere Nervenfaserdegenerationen in der peripheren Marksubstanz des Rückenmarks. Die Veränderungen in den peripheren Nerven war geringfügig. Diese “neuroaxonale Degeneration” wird in ihrer Beziehung zu ähulichen in der menschlichen und tierischen Neuropathologie bekannten Veränderungen diskutiert.

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Edington, N., Howell, J.M. The neurotoxicity of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate in the rabbit. Acta Neuropathol 12, 339–347 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00809130

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