Changes in Certain Dynamic Features of Sensory Evoked Potentials of Rats on Exposure to Metal Xenobiotics
András Papp1, Terken Baydar2, Tünde Vezér1, and
László Nagymajtényi1
1 Department of Public Health, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Szeged Medical
and Pharmaceutical Center, Hungary
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Corresponding author: András Papp
SZTE Department of Public Health
Dóm tér 10.
H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
Fax number: (+36) 62 545 120
E-mail: ppp@puhe.szote.u-szeged.hu
CEJOEM 2000, Vol.6. No.2-3.:202-208
Key words:
Organophosphates, heavy metals, neutotoxicity, evoked potentials, biomarker, rat
Abstract:
In modern societies, whole populations are exposed to a variety of toxic substances, several
of which affect the nervous system. This points to the need of searching for means of early
detection of harmful effects. Sensory evoked potentials are readily recorded in experimental
nimals and in humans and have been shown to be sensitive of toxic effects. Taking rats
subchronically exposed to different environmental xenobiotics as a model of human exposure,
our aim was to identify toxicant-induced changes, which can be used for early detection of
neurotoxic effects in humans. Young adult rats were treated for 10-12 weeks with various
insecticide agents and heavy metals, and sensory evoked potentials were recorded after the
treatment period in acute experiment. Dependence of the basic parameters of the evoked potentials,
i.e. amplitude, latency and duration, on the frequency of stimulation and on the number of
stimuli in a train was investigated.
In the somatosensory evoked potentials there was a slight
frequency dependence on the latency and duration, which was dissimilar in control and
treated rats. The sequence of stimuli (first/last ones) had an effect mainly on the amplitude
of somatosensory and visual evoked potentials, which again was altered by the xenobiotic
treatment. It can be concluded that certain properties of the evoked potentials seem to be
highly sensitive to xenobiotic exposure and may be usable for detection of such exposures in humans.
Received: 31 July 2000
Accepted: 01 December 2000
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