Hypomyelination in the neonatal rat central and peripheral nervous systems following tellurium intoxication

Neonatal rats were exposed to Tellurium (Te), via the mother's milk, from the day of birth until sacrifice at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of age. Light and electron microscopy revealed Schwann cell and myelin degeneration in the sciatic nerves at each age studied. These changes were similar to those described in weanling rats as a result of Te intoxication. In the CNS, hypomyelination of the optic nerves was convincingly demonstrated at 14, 21, and 28 days of age, accompanied by some evidence of myelin degeneration. These changes were also seen in the ventral columns of the cervical spinal cords, although less markedly, and were confirmed by quantitative methods. There was little evidence of oligodendrocyte pathology in the CNS, and it appears that degeneration of these cells is not the primary cause of the CNS hypomyelination, in contrast to the PNS where Schwann cell degeneration has been shown to precede the myelin pathology.