DEGENERATION OF THE BASAL GANGLIA IN MONKEYS FROM CHRONIC CARBON DISULFIDE POISONING1

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Abstract
Four monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were repeatedly exposed to carbon disulfide vapor over periods of 364 to 736 days. Acute intoxication was avoided. All of the animals developed signs indicative of profound cerebral damage. These were interpreted as chiefly extrapyramidal in origin. Most striking were certain motor disturbances common to all of the monkeys. They became progressively inactive, mimetic facial movements disappeared and many reactions of orientation, flight and defense were lost. Walking and climbing became slow, difficult and incoordinated, without actual paralysis. The head, trunk and extremities assumed postures of extreme flexion with plastic rigidity. Marked action tremors appeared in all animals, tremor of the resting extremities in one. There were impressive resemblances to the akinetic-rigid syndrome of Parkinsonism. Pathologically, the essential changes in three of the animals were massive necrobiotic lesions, symmetrical on the two sides, and confined strictly to the globus pallidus and substantia nigra. These had destroyed virtually all of the pallidum and zona reticulata of the substantia nigra. In the 4th animal there were numerous scattered destructive lesions in the corpus striatum and pallidum as well as those in the nigra. The pathogenesis of the lesions, their relation to the animals'' symptoms and to certain cases of chronic CS2 poisoning in man are discussed.

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