Electron microscopic observations of experimental carbon monoxide encephalopathy in the acute phase.

The cerebral and cerebellar lesions of the cats that were exposed to 0.3% carbon monoxide gas under artificial respiration were examined by an electron microscope at different intervals. During the first few days, the most outstanding features were segmental empty axonal swelling, dilatation of the extracellular space, swelling and necrosis of astrocytes and oligodendroglias, and lamellar separation of the myelin sheath predominantly in the deep cerebral white matter. These changes subsided within one week. Instead, collapsed myelin increased in number and phagocytosis of disintegrated myelin was occasionally observed. Astrocytes and oligodendroglias became prominent in size and number. Changes suggestive of selective damage of myelin or oligodendroglia was not encountered. We proposed that CO-followed by Wallerian degeneration. The pathogenesis of CO-encephalopathy was also discussed.