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Uptake of nickel into the brain via olfactory neurons in rats
J Henriksson1, J Tallkvist, H Tjälve
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
Abstract:
Intranasal instillation of nickel ([63]Ni2+) in rats resulted in an uptake of the metal in the olfactory epithelium and a migration along primary olfactory neurons to the glomeruli of the olfactory bulb. The metal was then seen to pass to the interior of the bulb and further to the olfactory peduncle, the olfactory tubercle and the rostral parts of the prepiriform, frontal and cingulate corticis. These results indicate that (63)Ni2+ slowly passes to secondary and tertiary olfactory neurons. Intraperitoneal injection of (63)Ni2+ resulted in a low uptake in the brain, without preferential labelling of the olfactory pathways. Inhalation of nickel compounds can impair the olfactory system. An uptake of nickel in the olfactory neurons may underly these lesions.