Sensory-evoked potentials in rats chronically exposed to trichloroethylene: predominant auditory dysfunction.
Sensory-evoked potentials (EPs) were studied in male Long-Evans and Fischer-344 rats in order to characterize the electrophysiological consequences of chronic inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE). Groups of ten Long-Evans rats were exposed to air or 1600 ppm or 3200 ppm TCE for twelve weeks and evaluated periodically with a multisensory test battery. Brainstem auditory-evoked response (BAER) amplitudes were depressed by TCE, whereas somatosensory and visual potentials remained normal. The effects on BAERs, which varied with tone intensity and frequency, suggested that TCE causes a predominantly high-frequency hearing loss. Comparable effects were obtained in both strains of rats and were like those previously observed following exposure to toluene.
Rebert
C S
CS
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Day
V L
VL
Matteucci
M J
MJ
Pryor
G T
GT
D000818:Animals; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014241:Trichloroethylene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
D014241:Trichloroethylene