Neurotoxic effects of 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) in the hamster (mesocricetus auratus).

The 3-Acetylpyridine (3-AP) is a neurotoxic that determines a selective destruction of inferior olivary nucleus in the rat. However, in the other animals (mouse, rabbit, guinea-pig, quail and chicken) the effect could be less selective in the mentioned nucleus and constant in other areas of the central and peripheral nervous system. This investigation means to expand the study of these neurotoxic effects to the hamster, species not yet studied. The intraperitoneal administration of 3-AP, at a dosage of 65 mg/Kg, determines in this animal stridulous breathing, coughing and ataxy. Wide sites of the nervous system show, by microscopical observations, pictures of shrinking cells, vacuolization of the cytoplasm, reduction or loss of Nissl stain affinity and neuronal mutilation. The neurotoxic effects are mostly evident in the motor nuclei of the cerebral trunk and in the ventral horns of the spinal cord. However, the inferior olivary nucleus appears undamaged or sparely involved.