No abstract

Mercury deposition and its relationship to the inner ear function in methylmercury-poisoned rats were examined. Rats were poisoned with methylmercury chloride. After the appearance of signs of poisoning, the cerebellar and inner ear tissues were examined histochemically using an autoradiographic procedure. Mercury deposits were typically found in the cerebellum and appeared in parts of the vestibular nerves, cochlear nerves, spiral ganglion and stria vascularis. In the vestibule, a slight mercury deposition was observed in the acoustic maculae and in the cochlea; only one instance of mercury deposit in the organ of Corti was detected. The effect of mercury on the inner ear function was also assessed on the basis of immunohistochemical localization of substance P which is believed to be a neurotransmitter in the inner ear. However, no pathological changes were detected. These findings suggest that methylmercury deposition has little effect on the inner ear function.

We report here the case of a 32-year-old woman who suffered from a unique angiopathy in the central nervous system (CNS). She died of multiple infarcts in the brain stem and cerebellum during treatment with cyclosporine A after bone marrow transplantation for refractory anemia with excess of blasts. The autopsy findings showed segmental narrowing of the basilar artery, in which circumferential dissection of the internal elastic lamina had occurred. The distal portion of the basilar artery was obstructed by upward dislocation of the dissected intima. Similar angiopathy was also observed at multiple sites along the basilar artery branches. These findings suggest endothelial damage, including vasoconstriction and dissection of the CNS arteries.

No abstract

No abstract