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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