A sequential study of changes in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of the rat following triethyltin poisoning.

Following a single intravenous (i.v.) injection of triethyltin (10 mg/kg) in rats, vacuoles appeared in the myelin sheath within 3 h and they progressively increased in size between 6 and 24 h. Their development was closely correlated with a progressive increase in water, sodium, and chloride content of the brain, and of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. Oedema was more extensive in tissues consisting predominantly of white matter rather than grey matter. The sustained increase in CSF pressure did not precede the development of lesions and was the result of, rather than the cause of, brain oedema and swelling. These findings indicate that triethyltin has a direct effect on the myelin sheath.