Neuropathological effects of triphenyl phosphite on the central nervous system of the hen (Gallus domesticus).

The neurotoxic effects of single subcutaneous injections of 1000 mg triphenyl phosphite (TPP)/kg body weight were investigated in White Leghorn hens. At 7 days postexposure, birds began to show signs of mild to moderate ataxia that progressed to severe ataxia and paralysis at 21 days. Inhibition of whole brain neuropathy target esterase was 85% at 48 hr and 73% by 21 days postexposure. After postexposure periods of 7, 14, and 21 days, hens were killed and their brains and spinal cords were examined for degenerating axons and terminals using the Fink-Heimer silver impregnation method. A small amount of degeneration was noted at 7 days. By 21 days, dense degeneration was noted in the spinal gray matter and funiculi. Degeneration was also present in the granular cell layer of cerebellar folia I-VI and in nuclei and fiber tracts of the medulla. Moderate to dense degeneration was also seen in several forebrain and midbrain areas including the paleostriatum, ansa lenticularis, the dorso-intermediate thalamic nucleus, lateral spiriform, pedunculopontine tegmental, and lateral mesencephalic nuclei and in the deeper layers of the optic tectum. These results indicate that, in addition to affecting the spinal cord and brainstem, exposure to TPP also damages higher order centers responsible for processing and integrating sensorimotor, visual, and auditory information.