Electron microscope study of thallium-induced alterations in the oligodendrocytes of the rat area postrema.

Thallotoxicosis following accidental ingestion of thallium in rodenticides and in cases of homicidal and suicidal ingestion are well documented in the literature. The mechanism of action of thallium, in particular the pathogenesis of its neurotoxic manifestations, is not entirely clear. This is the first electron microscopic investigation dealing with the effect of thallium on the oligodendrocytes of the area postrema. The area postrema is devoid of a blood-brain barrier, indicating that the hemoneural transport of thallous ions may be quite substantial in this region. Rats weighing 155-175 g were given intraperitoneal injections of 5 mg/kg thallous acetate for 7 days (35 mg/kg total dose). Following perfusion-fixation, ultrathin sections of area postrema were examined with an electron microscope. The oligodendrocytes exhibited pleomorphic vacuolated dense bodies in their perikaryon. The findings were also suggestive of the fact that either the multiplication of oligodendrocytes or their aggregation to form "giant cell" was operative.