Astrogliosis in the cerebral cortex of gerbils after long-term exposure to 1,1,1-trichloroethane.
Mongolian gerbils (Meriones ungiculatus) were continuously exposed by inhalation to 1,1,1-trichloroethane at 70, 210, or 1 000 ppm for three months, followed by a four-month postexposure solvent-free period. Concentrations of two astroglial proteins, S-100 and glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein, were then determined in different regions of the cerebral cortex. The main biochemical alterations induced after exposure to 210 and 1 000 ppm of 1,1,1-trichloroethane demonstrated a pronounced change in gerbil brain; increased concentrations of GFA protein were found in the cerebral sensorimotor cortex at both these exposure levels, an occurrence indicating astrogliosis in this brain region. These results suggest that 1,1,1-trichloroethane should not be regarded as harmless, particularly regarding neurotoxicity, as previously claimed.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005849:Gerbillinae; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014240:Trichloroethanes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D014240:Trichloroethanes