Abstract

Advances made by electron probe microanalysis in the study of renal lesions induced by acute mercury poisoning. Renal lesions induced by acute bichloride of mercury poisoning were studied in tissues fixed in vivo by perfusion according to Maunsbach's technique. The ultrastructure of these lesions was described more precisely and the chemical constitution of the abnormal deposits determined by electron probe microanalysis. This investigation demonstrated that the above-mentioned lesions selectively affect cells of the terminal segment of the proximal tubule. In these cells, mitochondrial alterations are predominant. The mitochondria contain two kinds of abnormal deposits: 1) dense, spherical, amorphous granules containing only osmium at high concentration, 2) needle-like microcrystals frequently arranged in small bundles containing calcium and phosphorus at high concentration, and sulfur and mercury at low cencentration. Mercury was never outside these deposits. Apport du microanalyseur a sonde electronique dans l'etude des lesions renales provoquees par l'intoxication aigue mercurielle. Les lesions renales provoquees lors de l'intoxication aigue par le bichlorure de mercure ont ete etudiees sur des tissus fixes par perfusion suivant la technique de Maunsbach. L'ultrastructure des lesions a ete precisee et la nature chimique des depots anormaux a ete determinee par l'utilisation du microanalyseur a sonde electronique. Cette etude a montre que les lesions atteignent electivement les cellules de la portion terminale du segment proximal du nephron. Dans ces cellules, les alterations mitochondriales sont predominantes. Ces mitochondries contiennent des depots anormaux de deux types: 1) des granulations denses, arrondies, amorphes et ne contenant que de l'osmium en forte concentration, 2) des microcristaux en forme d'aiguilles groupees le plus souvent en amas, contenant du calcium et du phosphore en forte concentration, du soufre et du mercure en plus faible concentration. La presence de mercure n'a jamais ete decele en dehors de ces depots.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call