Response of epithelial cells of the choroid plexus in the ferret model for Reye's syndrome.

The structural integrity of epithelial cells of the lateral choroid plexus tissues from the ferret model for Reye's syndrome was examined by transmission electron microscopy after the animals were inoculated intranasally with influenza B, were administered aspirin, and/or were fed an arginine deficient diet singly and in combination. No cellular alteration in the choroidal epithelium was caused by influenza B nor by aspirin, however, the synthetic diet produced random intercellular edema. The structural integrity of choroidal epithelial cells appeared intact after ferrets were infected with influenza B and were given aspirin in combination. Cellular changes were seen, however, after each of these agents was combined with the presentation of the arginine-deficient diet. Intracytoplasmic vacuoles were observed in tissues of the choroid plexus from animals inoculated with influenza B and fed the arginine-deficient diet. Both intercellular vacuolization and intercellular edema were seen in the choroidal epithelia after ferrets were administered aspirin and were fed the synthetic diet. Such cellular changes observed in the choroidal epithelia in response to the paired presentation of these agents were not as severe as those seen in the choroid plexuses of animals in which all three agents were given in combination. These results support the hypothesis that metabolic events that occur after the administration of these agents collectively impact on epithelial cells of the choroid plexus.