The main objective of the present study was to investigate possible alterations of the sciatic nerve of rats exposed to 220 V for 30 seconds by light and transmission electron microscope (TEM).
Electric current was applied on the thigh region near the gastroneamus muscles of rats.
The sciatic nerve was taken immediately at 30 and 60 minutes and fixed in 4% cold glutaraldehyde.
They were then processed for both light and TEM. Light microscope showed irregularities of the shape of the nerve bundles and fibers compared to the control.
Moreover, annulations of the myelin sheath, were detected and mast cell infiltration was observed around the myelin sheath, which suggested a response of the nerve tissue to the injury.
TEM showed that the myelin sheath of non-exposed rats had no remarkable morphological changes: the thickness was in the range (1.41+/- 0.7) um. On the contrary, the exposed nerve showed a remarkable increase in thickness (2.32+/- 0.8) um. The nerves from the exposed rats were fragmented either in localized areas of the nerve where they appeared "bulby" or onion-like or in the surroundings of the entire nerve.
No changes were observed in Schwann cells. Mast cells were detected around the affected nerve fibers showed empty vesicles, suggested degranulation.
These results can be a helpful tool in veterinary forensic Medicine.