Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the antidotal effects of thiamine in phenylmercury poisoning rats. Sixty-six rats were divided into six groups the control group, the $40{\gamma}$ thiamine-only-dosed group, the 6 ppm phenylmercury-only-dosed group, the simultaneously-dosed-group with 6 ppm mercury & $20{\gamma}$ thiamine, and with 6 ppm mercury & $40{\gamma}$ thiamine, and with 6 ppm mercury & $80{\gamma}$ thiamine. The thiamine was put into pellet by various concentrations, and phenylmercury was mixed in drinking water by 6 ppm concentration. The rats were sacrificed for observing the histopathological changes of brain, liver and kidney. The remits summarized are as follows 1. In the group dosed with only $40{\gamma}$ thiamine, the tissues of brain, liver and kidney did not show any abnormal architecture. 2. The phenyhnercury-only-dosed group and the simultaneoulsy-dosed group with mercury and $20{\gamma}$ thiamine showed remarkable degenerative or necrotic hepatic cells. In addition, a remarkable swelling and necrosis on epithelium of proximal tubules in kidney were found. 3. The simultaneously-dosed group with mercury and $40{\gamma}$ thiamine showed moderate degeneration and necrosis of Purkinje cells in cerebellum. A moderate necrosis and swelling on epithelium of proximal tubules and a large amount of tubular casts were found as well. 4. The simultaneously-dosed group with mercury and $80{\gamma}$ thiamine showed a slight degenerative change of Purkinje cells. A slight degenerative change on epithelium of proximal tubules and a small amount of tubular casts were also found.