J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1994 Mar;12(1):100-109.

An Experimental Investigation of the Lesions of the Globus Pallidus and Substantia Nigra in Acute Carbon Monoxide Posioning in Cats

• Bang CO
• Park JM
• Lee TK
• Oh GS
• Ahn MY
• Shin HG
• Lee KH
• Kim YS

Abstract

Severe morphologic changes in the central nervous system(CNS) have been recognized in aucte carbon monoxide(CO) poisoning. These have been usually located in globus palIidus, hippocarnpus, substantia nigra, cerebral white matter, cortical gray mattr, and cerebellum. It is well known that lesions in the CNS are shown both in the globus pallidus and cerebral white matter on neuroradiologic studies using CT or MRI. However we recently experienced two patients of aucte CO poisoning with residual neurologic sequelae, showing the bilateral lesions in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra on MRI performed 10 to 11 days after acute CO poisoning. Experimental studies were performed to investigate the correlation between the physlological data, such as duratlon of CO exposure, change of blood pressure, and termmal carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) concentration in the blood, and the severities of pallidal and nigral lesions in acute CO exposured cats. Twelve mature cats, weighing 2.7-3.8kg, were exposured to 0.3% CO gas for 95-215 min. using artificial ventilation. The systemic blood pressure and electrocardiograrn were monitored continuously during CO exposure. HbCO concentration in the blood was analyzed immediatelly when CO exposure was terrninated. One to 12 days after CO poisoning, animals were killed and the brain was examined morphologically. Then the correlation between the physiological data and the severities of ischemic change in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra was examined. The results were summerized as follows; 1. The duration of CO ex.posure was ranged from 95 to 215 minutes, and the degree of BP drop from 14 to 76%. There were various hnds of abnorrnalities, such as cardiac arrhythmia and ischemic pattem on EKG, and terrninal HbCO concentration in the blood was ranged from 36 to 79.3%. 2. Morphologically, there was focal necrosis with intense infiltration of macrophages in the globus pallidus of a cat. In the globus pallidus of the remaining 11 cats, the severity of ischemic change was 27.3 to 95.6%.

MeSH Terms

Animals
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Blood Pressure
Brain
Carbon Monoxide*
Carbon*
Carboxyhemoglobin
Cats*
Cerebellum
Electrocardiography
Globus Pallidus*
Humans
Macrophages
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Necrosis
Poisoning
Substantia Nigra*
Ventilation
Carbon
Carbon Monoxide
Carboxyhemoglobin