Damage to neurons of the cerebral cortex in acute poisoning with baclofen and its combination with ethanol

BACKGROUND: The number of poisoning with a muscle relaxant baclofen has increased recently. The brain is one of the target organs in baclofen poisoning. AIM: To identify and quantify cerebral cortex neuron damage in baclofen and baclofen ethanol poisoning. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A histological study of rat cerebral cortex was performed. The controls (n = 5) received neither baclofen nor ethanol. Groups 1 and 3 received baclofen (85 mg/kg), whereas groups 2 and 4 received baclofen (85 mg/kg) and ethanol (7 ml/kg). Groups 1 and 3 were euthanized 4 h after the drug administration, whereas groups 2 and 4 were euthanized after 24 h. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and by the Nissl method and examined by light microscopy (400). The number of damaged neurons was calculated. Statistical processing was performed by the nonparametric MannWhitney method. RESULTS: Neurons with reversible and irreversible changes in the controls accounted for 13% and 9%, respectively. At 4 h after baclofen administration, neurons with reversible and irreversible changes accounted for 22% and 21%; 4 h after baclofen and ethanol administration, 24% and 29%; 24 h after baclofen administration, 25% and 37%, respectively. Baclofen and ethanol administration caused an increase in the share of neurons with reversible (27%) and irreversible (41%) changes. The differences between group 3 and the control group were significant, and the difference was significant when group 4 was compared with the control group and group 3. CONCLUSION: Understanding the processes in the brain during baclofen and baclofen ethanol administration will allow the provision of medical care to this category of patients more effectively. The signs of brain neuron damage, along with the results of forensic chemical analysis, can be used to establish the immediate cause of death.