title: Distribution of paraquat into the brain after its systemic injection in rats.
abstract: Paraquat concentrations were determined in specific brain areas of rats systemically treated with different doses of the herbicide and sacrificed at different time periods following the acute administration. The systemic treatment with paraquat gave rise to a regional differential distribution of the herbicide into the rat brain, the highest levels being detected in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus. The rate of paraquat elimination showed time-dependency in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus; by contrast, in the other regions studied the initial drop observed at 3 h was followed by a second phase of significant accumulation. The concentrations detected into the cortex may account for the neuronal cell death reported in rats following systemic injection of this herbicide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Reggio Calabria, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Corasaniti
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Strongoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisanelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rotiroti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nisticò
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000502:physiology; D010269:Paraquat / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D010269:Paraquat