Regional brain distribution of toluene in rats and in a human autopsy.
Toluene concentrations in 9 brain regions of acutely exposed rats and that in 11 brain regions of a human case who inhaled toluene prior to death are described. After exposure to toluene by inhalation (2000 or 10,000 ppm) for 0.5 h or by oral dosing (400 mg/kg), rats were killed by decapitation 0.5 and 4 h after onset of inhalation and 2 and 10 h after oral ingestion. After each experimental condition the highest range of brain region/blood toluene concentration ratio (BBCR) was in the brain stem regions (2.85-3.22) such as the pons and medulla oblongata, the middle range (1.77-2.12) in the midbrain, thalamus, caudate-putamen, hypothalamus and cerebellum, and the lowest range (1.22-1.64) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These distribution patterns were quite constant. Toluene concentration in various brain regions were unevenly distributed and directly related blood levels. In a human case who had inhaled toluene vapor, the distribution among brain regions was relatively similar to that in rats, the highest concentration ratios being in the corpus callosum (BBCR: 2.66) and the lowest in the hippocampus (BBCR: 1.47).
Ameno
K
K
Department of Forensic Medicine, Kagawa Medical School, Japan.
Kiriu
T
T
Fuke
C
C
Ameno
S
S
Shinohara
T
T
Ijiri
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014050:Toluene / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning
D014050:Toluene