Ultraestructural evaluation of CNS lesions induced by the intoxication with Ipomoea carnea spp. fistulosa in guinea pigs.

CHOLICH LUCIANA A; GIMENO EDUARDO J.; TEIBLER GLADYS P; JORGE NELLY; ACOSTA DE PEREZ OFELIA C

Aguas de Lindoia

Encuentro; Encontro de Patologia Veterinaria (XIV Enapave); 2009

Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria de Zootecnia da Universidade de Sao Paulo

The intoxication by Ipomoea carnea spp. fistulosa occurs in ruminants and produce lysosomal storage disease characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolation, mainly in neurons. Swainsonine and calystegines B1, B2 and C1 were the isolated toxic principles I. carnea. Recently, we proposed the guinea pig as a new experimental model for the reproduction of plant induced neuronal storage disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ultrastructural lesions induced by Ipomoea carnea intoxication in the central nervous system (CNS) in laboratory guinea pigs. Leaves of the plant were dried at 37ºC up to constant weight and milled. They were mixed homogeneously with commercial guinea pig pellets, previously hydrated with water for the making of small balls. A mixture pellets-dry leaves in proportion 50:50 % were administered during 45 days. Clinical signs included hirsutism, emaciated and progressively loss of body weight. Samples were taken from anterior, medial and posterior brain, anterior and posterior colliculus, pons, cerebellum and obex. They were fixed by immersion in cacodylate buffered 2% glutaraldehyde post-fixed in osmium tetroxide andembedded in Epon. Thick sections were stained with methylene blue and selected thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and examined in a JEOL transmission electron microscope. The ultrastructure of the CNS showed varying degrees of vacuolization in the cytoplasm of neurons in all the studied structures. The vacuoles were membrane bound and some of them had finely granulated material. In cerebellum, there were abnormal cytoplasmic vacuoles in Purkinje and Golgi cells. We conclude that Ipomoea carnea spp. fistulosa induces in guinea pigs ultrastrcutural changes are similar to other glycoprotein lysosomal storage diseases, mainly with the inherited a-mannosidosis in guinea pigs