Ultrastructural study of the effects of cyclosporine in the brainstem of Wistar rats submitted to the ethidium bromide demyelinating model

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2008 Jun;66(2B):378-84. doi: 10.1590/s0004-282x2008000300019.

Abstract

The ethidium bromide-demyelinating model (EB) was used to study remyelination in the brainstem under the use of cyclosporine (CsA). Wistar rats were submitted to intracisternal injection of 0.1% EB or 0.9% saline solution, and others were taken as histologic controls (group I). Within those injected with EB, some have not received immunosuppressive treatment (II); some were treated by intraperitonial route with CsA (III.E-10 mg/kg/day). Rats from group III.C were injected with saline solution and treated with CsA. The animals were perfused from 15 to 31 days post-injection collecting brainstem sections for light and transmission electron microscopy studies. After EB injection it was noted the presence of macrophages and non-degraded myelin debris, demyelinated axons, oligodendrocyte or Schwann cell remyelinated axons, groups of infiltrating pial cells, hypertrophic astrocytes and few lymphocytes. Tissue repair of EB-induced lesions in group III.E was similar to that of group II, but with the presence of a higher density of oligodendrocytes near remyelinating areas.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Stem / cytology
  • Brain Stem / drug effects*
  • Brain Stem / physiology
  • Brain Stem / ultrastructure
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / chemically induced
  • Demyelinating Diseases / drug therapy
  • Demyelinating Diseases / pathology*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Ethidium
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / ultrastructure
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Myelin Sheath / drug effects
  • Myelin Sheath / physiology
  • Neuroglia / drug effects
  • Neuroglia / physiology
  • Neuroglia / ultrastructure*
  • Oligodendroglia / drug effects
  • Oligodendroglia / ultrastructure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Schwann Cells / drug effects
  • Schwann Cells / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclosporine
  • Ethidium