You are here:
BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS OF LONG EVANS RATS FOLLOWING A 13-WEEK SUBCHRONIC TOLUENE EXPOSURE.
Citation:
SAMSAM, T. E. AND P. J. BUSHNELL. BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS OF LONG EVANS RATS FOLLOWING A 13-WEEK SUBCHRONIC TOLUENE EXPOSURE. Presented at Behavioral Toxicology Society, Little Rock, AR, September 15 - 19, 2006.
Description:
The current study sought to develop an animal model of the neurotoxicity of long-term exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which may be used to predict the effects of chronic exposure to VOCs on public health. The effects of Subchronic inhalation exposure to toluene (0, 10, 100, and 1000 ppm, 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks) on motor activity and learning and sustained attention were studied. Rats were tested for one hour each on a Figure-eight maze 2 days after the end of exposure and no differences in motor activity between the groups were observed. Training to perform a visual signal detection task to assess learning and sustained attention began 12 days after the end of exposure. During the initial training (auto shaping) the toluene-exposed rats acquired the lever press response slower than the controls, in a dose-related manner. Acquisition of a subsequent visual discrimination task was also inhibited in the 100 and 1000 ppm groups. These results indicate that Subchronic exposure to toluene may cause persistent Neurotoxic effects.
[This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.]