vFollowing acute tetraethyllead intoxication in rabbits
classic neurofibrillary tangles develop. As studied by electron microscopy, such tangles develop in hydropic
degenerating neurons and consist primarily of bundles of 200 A diameter smooth tubules of enormous length. In two of 16 animals a
few
twisted tubules (periodicity of 800 A) also could be found. The significance
of these
lead-induced twisted tubules, so characteristic of Alzheimer's pre-senile dementia in man, is discussed.
v