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High doses of cobalt induce optic and auditory neuropathy
- Source :
- Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology. 65:719-727
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2013.
-
Abstract
- The adverse biological effects of continuous exposure to cobalt and chromium have been well defined. In the past, this toxicity was largely an industrial issue concerning workers exposed in occupational setting. Nevertheless, recent reports have described a specific toxicity mediated by the high levels of cobalt and chromium released by metallic prostheses, particularly in patients who had received hip implants. Clinical symptoms, including blindness, deafness and peripheral neuropathy, suggest a specific neurotropism. However, little is known about the neuropathological basis of this process, and experimental evidence is still lacking. We have investigated this issue in an experimental setting using New Zealand White rabbits treated with repeated intravenous injections of cobalt and chromium, alone or in combination. No evident clinical or pathological alterations were associated after chromium administration alone, despite its high levels in blood and tissue while cobalt–chromium and cobalt-treated rabbits showed clinical signs indicative of auditory and optic system toxicity. On histopathological examination, the animals showed severe retinal and cochlear ganglion cell depletion along with optic nerve damage and loss of sensory cochlear hair cells. Interestingly, the severity of the alterations was related to dosages and time of exposure. These data confirmed our previous observation of severe auditory and optic nerve toxicity in patients exposed to an abnormal release of cobalt and chromium from damaged hip prostheses. Moreover, we have identified the major element mediating neurotoxicity to be cobalt, although the molecular mechanisms mediating this toxicity still have to be defined.
- Subjects :
- Male
Retinal Ganglion Cells
doses of cobalt
optic neuropathy
auditory neuropathy
Auditory neuropathy
Physiology
Toxicology
chemistry.chemical_compound
CHROMIUM
optic and auditory neuropathie
Tissue Distribution
Hearing Loss, Central
Ultrasonography
human prosthesis
Cobalt
Heavy Metal Poisoning, Nervous System
General Medicine
Sciatic Nerve
Cochlea
medicine.anatomical_structure
Toxicity
Optic nerve
Female
Rabbits
inorganic chemicals
medicine.medical_specialty
Retina
Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Chlorides
RABBIT
Chromium Compounds
Hair Cells, Auditory
otorhinolaryngologic diseases
medicine
Animals
Pathological
Spiral ganglion
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
business.industry
Neurotoxicity
Optic Nerve
Retinal
Cell Biology
medicine.disease
Surgery
Microscopy, Electron
Peripheral neuropathy
chemistry
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 09402993
- Volume :
- 65
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....133b35971105906b310340f80a48c1cc