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Toxicologic implication of altered behavior induced by an industrial vapor

1962; Elsevier BV; Volume: 4; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0041-008x(62)90052-2

1096-0333

M.E. Goldberg, C. C. Haun, Henry F. Smyth,

Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment

Abstract Vapors of methyl CELLOSOLVE or ethyl alcohol have been inhaled by rats selected on the basis of successful training to climb to a safety area of a chamber when activated by a conditioned stimulus (buzzer). Repeated daily inhalation of methyl CELLOSOLVE vapor indicates a specific inhibition of conditioned avoidanceescape behavior in concentrations which produce no sign of motor imbalance. Inhibition requires several 4-hour inhalations and has been shown to be progressive up to a point. Parenteral administration of methyl CELLOSOLVE has shown that inhibition of unconditioned response (failure to respond to shock) occurs only after lethal amounts have been injected. This inhibition precedes death by 24 hours. In animals inhaling ethyl alcohol vapor, a disturbance in this behavioral system was observed only with concentrations which produced frank depression and ataxia. Inhibition of conditioned response has been attributed to altered motor activity. A single 4-hour inhalation of methyl CELLOSOLVE has been shown to potentiate the hypnotic effect of barbiturates. Parenteral administration has produced similar effects. Studies into the mechanism of this potentiation have indicated that pretreatment with lysergic acid diethylamide will antagonize the potentiation. There is a presumption that these findings may be related to the reports of toxic encephalopathy in humans. Confirmation will strengthen the view that behavioral methods should be more often utilized in toxicologic studies.