[Histologic changes in peripheral nerves in rats with chronic copper poisoning]

The results of histochemical and histopathologic tests of a periphery nerve in rats which were chronically poisoned with copper, are presented. The tests were performed on 45 albino Wistar female rats, which were poisoned with pure copper powder in an inhalation chamber for one year. The control group consisted of 16 rats. By histochemical test the copper pigment was found in 46.66% of the poisoned rats. It was located in epineurium and perineurium, cells and less in the endoneurium. It was also found in cells of the blood vessel media of a periphery nerve. Histopathological changes in a periphery nerve were discrete and they appeared in the form of certain swollen axones.