title: Neurotoxicologic examination of rats exposed to 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) vapor for 13 weeks.
abstract: Large evoked potential and EEG changes occurred in a pilot study in Fischer 344 rats during exposure to 800 ppm of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene [perchloroethylene (Perc)], a cleaning solvent with anesthetic properties. In the main study, rats were evaluated for persistent nervous system effects the week following exposure to 0, 50, 200, or 800 ppm Perc for 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 13 weeks. The only effect related to treatment was in the flash evoked potential (FEP-V), recorded from the visual cortex. The longer latency potentials (N3) of the FEP-V had a greater amplitude in the 800 ppm Perc group. The FEP-Vs were of normal shape and latency. Although mild neurotoxicity could not be ruled out completely, amplitude changes in N3 can occur for a variety of psychophysiological reasons other than neurotoxicity. Consequently, as a stand-alone finding, the toxicologic significance of the larger FEP in the 800 ppm exposure group was unknown. Other data did not support a diagnosis of neurotoxicity. No treatment-related alterations were noted in expanded clinical observations, in the FEP recorded from the cerebellum (as opposed to visual cortex FEP-V), or in auditory, somatosensory, or caudal nerve evoked potentials. No treatment-related lesions were noted during histopathologic examination of eyes, optic nerves, optic tract, or multiple sections of brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, or limb muscles. The no-observed-effect-level (NOEL) was 200 ppm, based on increased amplitude of the longer latency potentials of the FEP at 800 ppm.
authors.affiliation: Health and Environmental Research Laboratories, Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA. jmattsson@dow.com
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mattsson
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Albee
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene