Acute sulfolane exposure produces temperature-independent and dependent changes in visual evoked potentials.
Sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene-1, 1-dioxide) is a commercially important solvent. This report describes the consequences of acute exposure to sulfolane upon the visual system, as measured using flash evoked potentials (FEPs) and pattern reversal evoked potentials (PREPs). A single injection of either 1/2 or 1/4, but not 1/8 the IP LD50 (1600 mg/kg) produced significant changes in both FEPs and PREPs which were apparent within 1 hour and lasted longer than 6 hours. Amplitudes of FEP peaks to the first of a pair of stimuli were generally increased compared to control, an effect which was not temperature-dependent. In addition, sulfolane produced an ambient temperature- and dose-dependent hypothermia. Sulfolane increased latencies of FEP and PREP peaks, but attenuating hypothermia eliminated the effect of sulfolane on latencies.
D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects*; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000633:toxicity*
D013876:Thiophenes; C013693:sulfolane