Effect of BCNU, administered to pregnant female rats, on morphology and histochemistry of brain neurocytes in the progeny.

For evaluation of neurotoxicity of 1,3-bis[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) effects of the compound were examined on histoenzymatic activity of some phosphatases and esterases and on karyometry and DNA cytophotometry in brain neurocytes of the progeny of mothers who had been given the drug during pregnancy. The studies were performed on young, 14 and 28 days old rats of Wistar strain originating from mothers given intraperitoneal BCNU injections on the 12th and 18th day of pregnancy. Material of the studies included neurocytes of frontal cortex, parietal cortex and of trigeminal nerve nucleus in which enzymatic activities of some phosphatases and esterases were estimated and which were subjected to karyometric and DNA cytophotometric measurements, using Morphoquant automated microscopic image analyzer (VEB Carl Zeiss, Jena). The experiments documented decreased nonspecific esterase and ATPase activities and increased activities of acetylcholinesterase, cholinesterase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase in neurocytes of experimental animals, as compared to control animals of the corresponding age. The changes were noted both in 14 and 28 days old animals. Changes in thiamine pyrophosphate phosphohydrolase (TTPase) enzymatic activity were of different type in dependence upon age of the animals (increased activity in 28 days old rats, decreased activity in 14 days old rats). In animals subjected to BCNU action in fetal life several karyo- and cytophotometric changes were noted also: circumference and area of cell nuclei cross-sections were decreased, cell nuclei became more round, relative DNA content of cell nuclei increased with parallel increases in compactness and concentration of nuclear chromatin. Karyometric changes showed similar character in both age groups while changes in DNA cytophotometry were more evident in 14 days old rats.