Histoenzymatic changes in the thalamic nuclei of rats intoxicated by phenyl-mercury acetate (PhMA).

The effect of ingestion of phenylmercury acetate (PhMA), a fungicide of wide agricultural application, on the histoenzymatic pattern of the thalamic nuclei was investigated. It has been shown that in rats administered via a gastric tube with 8 mg of PhMA for 10 consecutive days, a considerable drop of AChE, BuTJ, acP and ATPase activities in many thalamic nuclei was found. Beside the inhibition of many enzymes, TPPase and NsE activities were increased. The histoenzymatic response of the individual thalamic nuclei to PhMA intoxication was highly differentiated. A detailed list of results obtained are presented in tables I and II.