Specific neurotoxic effects of different organic solvents on dissociated cultures of the nervous system.
Pure neurons were prepared from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of 8 day old chick embryos (E8). The substances tested in this model were pure n-hexane, 2.5-hexanedione (2.5 HD) and methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK). Differentiated cultures were exposed to these neurotoxins after two days in culture and then examined over a period of up to one week. For all three substances a specific neurotoxic effect could be demonstrated: (i) n-Hexane mainly altered the neurites, leading to focal swellings and in a second step to degenerative changes in glial cells; (ii) 2.5 HD had a minor effect on neurons and proved to be mainly gliatoxic; (iii) MEK primarily affected the neurons by swelling and disintegration of the cell body.
Stoltenburg-Didinger
G
G
Institute of Neuropathology, Klinikum Steglitz, Free University Berlin, F.R.G.
Boegner
F
F
Grüning
W
W
Wagner
M
M
Marx
P
P
Altenkirch
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002074:Butanones / Q000633:toxicity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D006586:Hexanes / Q000633:toxicity*; D006588:Hexanones / Q000633:toxicity*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects
D002074:Butanones; D006586:Hexanes; D006588:Hexanones; C026385:n-hexane; C005222:methylethyl ketone; C011269:2,5-hexanedione