title: Propylene glycol produces excessive apoptosis in the developing mouse brain, alone and in combination with phenobarbital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Propylene glycol (PG) is a common solvent used in medical preparations. It is generally recognized as safe at regulated concentrations; however, its apoptotic potential is unknown.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PG triggered widespread apoptotic neurodegeneration with the greatest damage at postnatal day 7 (P7). Significant apoptosis was observed at doses as low as 2 ml/kg. These findings have implications for the safety of drug preparations used in pediatric medicine. The anticonvulsant phenobarbital (PB), which alone produces apoptosis in the immature central nervous system (CNS) is prepared in 68% PG and 10% ethanol (EtOH). We assessed whether PG contributes to the neurotoxic potential of PB. The agents (both at subtoxic doses) produce significantly more apoptosis when used in combination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, finding an alternative non-apoptotic solvent that can be used as a substitute for PG may be beneficial to patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/6 mice (P4-30) were exposed to PG to examine whether PG could produce apoptosis in the developing CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Brant S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Swiney
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.forename: Kevin K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Nuri B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Farber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D012997:Solvents; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D053148:Caspase 3; D010634:Phenobarbital