[Histologic changes in the rat brain during chronic copper poisoning]

The results of biotoxical, histochemical and histopathological tests of the brain in rats which were chronically poisoned with copper are presented. The tests were performed on 45 albino female rats, Wistar breed, which were poisoned with pure copper powder in an inhalation chamber for one year. The control group consisted of 16 rats. Copper concentration in the brain of the poisoned rats was 1.2 times higher compared to the control group. By a histochemical test, a copper pigment was found in 53.33% of the poisoned rats, and the accumulation was at its highest level in the pyramidal cells of the cerebrum ring, subcortical nuclei, neurones of Ammon's horn and fasciae dentate and Purkinje's cells of the cerebellum ring. In these structures histopathological changes in the form of wrinkling, acute swelling and tigrolysis were found. The intensity of changes was in accordance with copper depots in certain brain parts.