Study of the area affected by onchocerciasis in Brazil: survey of local residents

The purpose of present study was to evaluate the sensitivity of regenerating epithelium of renal proximal convolutions to mercury bichloride and to describe light microscopic, electron microscopic and histochemical abnormalities occurring under the effect of the latter. The ligation of rat kidney with silk thread resulted in ischemic necrosis of tubules of compressed area followed by vivid regeneration. In that period mercury bichloride was administered intraperitoneally. The first detectable lesions appeared in mitochondrial swelling, condensation of endoplasmic reticulum, a decreased number of ribosomes and the presence of numerous vocuoles. Later on, the regenerating epithelium lost its brush broder and single cells became necrotic. During 42 days of observation the sequelae of mercuric intoxication were only focal and particular cells showed injury of variable degree.