Morphological changes in CNS of rats treated with perhexiline maleate (pexid)

The basic cellular lesion in CNS of suckling rats treated with Pexid was studied by light and electron miroscopy. The most pronounced abnormality, the formation of various intracytoplasmic inclusions, was found in neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, ependymal cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. These abnormal inclusions were generally membrane-bound, although clearly non-membrane-bound inclusions were occasionally found. The several internal patterns of the inclusions were (1) lamellar, both concentric and parallel, (2) reticular and (3) crystalloid. These alterations were completely reversed following withdrawal of the drug. The structural characteristics of the abnormal inclusions in Pexid-treated animals were similar to those found with certain hypocholesterolemic, neuroleptic, anorectic, and antimalarial drugs. This suggests that the inclusions occurring within the cells of animals treated with any of these drugs may develop in a similar manner, and that the formation of such inclusions is likely to be a form of cellular reaction common to certain metabolic disturbances.