Effect of alkylating drugs on rat cerebellum

Ultrastructural and histochemical studies were performed on Wistar rats treated during 6 days with Cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg/day or Lomustine 20 mg/kg/day. Changes in cerebellum after both drugs were similar. Most severe ultrastructural lesions were found in glia, mainly astroglia cells localized in perivascular area. Cytoplasm of these cells was on the large area devoid of organelles. Neurons were less affected but in Purkinje cells mild ultrastructural lesions were found. Increased activity of glucose-6-phosphatase and decreased of succinate dehydrogenase activity in these cells suggest that cytostatic treatment disturbed metabolism in the neurons.