Changes in intraepidermal nerve fiber and Langerhans cell densities in the plantar skin of rats after mercuric chloride exposure

• DOI: 10.1111/jns.12246
• Publication Date: 2017-11-23T05:42:46Z
• Authors: Binbin Sun; Shuangyi Fan; Kai Yao; Yifan Li; Xusheng Huang
• Keywords: Nerve fiber; Neurotoxicity; Sensory nerve; Mercury poisoning

Abstract Mercury and its compounds possess strong neurotoxicity patients with mercury poisoning often report pain numbness in the distal extremities that conform to “stocking–glove” pattern. However, no study has investigated whether damage small nerve fibers is associated poisoning. The aims of present were evaluate effects different doses chloride (HgCl 2 ) on intraepidermal density (IENFD) Langerhans cells (LCs) plantar skin rats assess possible relationship between changes IENFD sensory testing. Male Sprague–Dawley divided into three experimental groups administered HgCl solutions via gavage at (4.25, 8.5, 17 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. Subsequently, behavioral tests pathological LCs assessed time points (1, 2, 3 weeks). Rats all exhibited varying degrees weight hair loss. Thermal hypersensitivity was evident (for middle‐2w subgroup, p < 0.05). Mechanical sensitivity revealed hyposensitivity except high‐1w subgroup. Significant decreases high‐1w, middle‐1w, low‐2w, low‐3w subgroups, 0.05) significant increases (except low‐1w high‐2w found after exposure. An association analysis a correlation decrease increase densities (r = −0.573, 0.01). demonstrated an poisoning, indicating occurs