Rat spinal ganglia in assessment of protective action of antioxidants: A morphological study

Mercury pollution is one of the most pressing environmental problems. Therefore, the impact of mercury on human body, the nervous system in particular, remains topical. The aim of the study was to identify the morphological characteristics of neurons and neuroglia in spinal ganglia of rats receiving antioxidants in the presence of small doses of mercury (II) chloride.

A total of 100 white Wistar rats were divided into 5 series (10 groups), with 10 animals in each group. The first series comprised intact animals receiving saline solution instead of drugs administered in other series (control). In the second series 10 injections of mercury (II) chloride were performed (group of short-term neurointoxication) and 50 injections (group of long-term neurointoxication). In the third to the fifth series, the short- and long-term neurointoxication was followed by 10 daily injection of the drugs: unithiolum, thiotriazolinum and mildronate respectively. Spinal ganglia were obtained two weeks after the completion of drugs administration and studied microscopically and ultramicroscopically.

Administration of thiotriazolinum, unithiolum and mildronate mitigated manifestations of toxic effects of mercury (II) chloride on spinal ganglia. Unithiolum and thiotriazolinum activated synthetic processes, while mildronate had a positive effect on restoration of cells metabolism.

Morphological data show that unithiolum and thiotriazolinum action decreases toxic effects of mercury chloride and are similar. They demonstrate pronounced activation of synthetic processes in sensory neurons and satellite cells of spinal ganglia. Mildronate also restores cell ultrastructure and has more pronounced effect on their energetic processes and interaction between neurons and satellite cells.