The effect of toluene on the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor system in rats. A computerized nystagmographic study.
The short-term effect of exposure to toluene on the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor system in rats was investigated. Stimulation of the vestibulo- and opto-oculomotor system was either a constant rotatory acceleration, a sinusoidal oscillation, a randomized oscillation or an optokinetic stimulation. Eye movements in response to the different stimulations were recorded by EOG and fed into a computer for analysis. Due to toluene exposure the slow phase velocity gain during constant acceleration increased and the post-acceleratory nystagmus response was prolonged. The optokinetic gain at stimulation velocities above 10 deg/sec decreased during toluene exposure. Toluene also prolonged the duration of optokinetic after- and after-afternystagmus. The findings in this study strongly suggest an effect of toluene on the cerebellum.
D000054:Acceleration; D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects; D004584:Electronystagmography; D004585:Electrooculography; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012399:Rotation; D014050:Toluene / Q000633:toxicity*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000187:drug effects*
D014050:Toluene