Acute Effects of Two Mitochondrial Toxins,
3-Nitropropoinic Acid and Malonic Acid,
on the Spontaneous and Evoked Cortical Activity in Rats

Andrea Szabó, Zita Fazakas, András Papp, and László Nagymajtényi

Department of Public Health, University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine, Szeged, Hungary

Corresponding author: Andrea Szabó
    Department of Public Health
    University of Szeged Faculty of Medicine
    Dóm tér 10
    H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
    Telephone: +36-62-545-119
    Fax number: +36-62-545-120
    E-mail: szaboa@puhe.szote.u-szeged.hu

CEJOEM 2005, Vol.11. No.2.: 144–150

Key words:
3-nitropropionic acid, malonic acid, corticogram, evoked potentials, rat

Abstract:
Mitochondrial toxins are becoming important tools in modelling human neurological diseases. 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is a natural substance found in some weeds, and in foodstuffs infested by certain moulds causing occasional human intoxication with nervous system manifestations. Malonic acid (MA) is also found both in plants and animals. 3-NP causes an irreversible block of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase while the effect of MA is reversible. In our study, both toxicants were given acutely to young adult male Wistar rats and certain functional changes were observed. In the somatosensory cortical evoked potentials, 3-NP reduced the amplitude in the first but increased in the second evoked response obtained by double-impulse stimulation. MA caused no reduction of amplitude and its effect was more rapid. The spontaneous activity was slowed down in 3-NP- but not in MA-treated rats. The discrepancies indicate that some effects result possibly not from the mitochondrial action of the substances, which may be relevant for human disease models.

Received: 14 January 2005
Accepted: 26 May 2005
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