ABSTRACT
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was applied to a 2-cm2 area on the backs of four groups of mice for a 5-min period each day, 5 days per week, for the designated periods: groups I and II--six hairless albino mice (hrhr, c/c) per group--were treated for 8 weeks; group III--three hairless albino mice (hrhr, c/c)--were treated for 4 weeks; group IV--three white mice (ICR Swiss)--were treated for 8 weeks. A group of six untreated hairless albino mice (hrhr, c/c) (group V) functioned as controls for groups I, II and III, and a group of three white mice (ICR Swiss) (group VI) served as controls for group IV. Except for DMSO applications, controls were handled and treated in the same way as the experimental groups. At the end of the experimental periods, the claws of all appendages were removed, measured and average lengths were determined. The claws of group I and group II hairless albino mice were, on average, 2.4-fold longer than the claws of the control hairless albino mice, a significant increase (p less than 0.01) in the average claw length. There was no significant difference in the lengths of the claws of the group III mice after 4 weeks of DMSO application. The claws of group IV (ICR Swiss mice) were, on average, 1.2-fold longer than the claws of the control white mice, representing a significant increase (p less than 0.02) in claw length after 8 weeks of DMSO application.
Subject(s)
Dimethyl Sulfoxide/toxicity , Hoof and Claw/growth & development , Administration, Topical , Animals , Dimethyl Sulfoxide/administration & dosage , Irritants , Mice , Mice, Hairless , Mice, Inbred ICR , Skin/drug effects , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Fluorocarbon 113 was applied to the backs of male hairless mice for 10 days, 20 days and 40 days. After each exposure period, the mice were anesthetized and the liver biopsied. The tissue was prepared for light and electron microscopy. The resultant micrographs were stereologically analyzed. N differences in mitochondrial structure were observed between the controls and the animals exposed for 10 days and 40 days. In the animals exposed for 20 days, the mitochondria appeared swollen with a loss of matrix and cristae and a breakdown of one of the mitochondrial membranes. Stereological analysis demonstrated a significant increase in mitochondrial volume in the 20 day exposure group. The relative volume of the endoplasmic reticulum increased significantly over the controls in the animals exposed for 10 days, 20 days and 40 days based on stereological analysis.
Subject(s)
Chlorofluorocarbons, Methane/pharmacology , Liver/drug effects , Administration, Topical , Animals , Chlorofluorocarbons, Ethane , Chlorofluorocarbons, Methane/administration & dosage , Endoplasmic Reticulum/ultrastructure , Liver/ultrastructure , Male , Mice , Mice, Hairless , Mitochondria, Liver/ultrastructure , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A 15-year-old girl with familial dysautonomia had acute corneal ulcerations while on a respiratory during a dysautonomic crisis. Within 18 days she developed irritating corneal ring calcifications. Subsequent corneal perforation in the left eye was treated successfully with a lamellar graft, followed later by a penetrating graft in the right eye under local anesthesia. Four days postoperatively, the patient died during a vomiting crisis. Neuropathologic studies showed marked cell reduction in the superior cervical and trigeminal ganglia, but slight in the ciliary. The foveas appeared immature and macular ganglion cells were mildly reduced. The corneal button and lamellar grafted cornea had severe thinning and superficial calcification. Keratoplasty in familial dysautonomia is considered hazardous because of the continual threat of vomiting crises, but with sufficient care may be worthwhile for corneal perforation or advanced corneal scarring.
