This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Corasaniti, M.T. Articles by Nisticò, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Corasaniti, M.T. Articles by Nisticò, G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Neurotoxic Effects Induced by Intracerebral and Systemic Injection of Paraquat in Rats

Chair of Pharmacology, Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome

G. Bagetta

Chair of Pharmacology, Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome

P. Rodinò

Chair of Pharmacology, Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome

S. Gratteri

Chair of Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Reggio Calabria, Italy

G. Nisticò

Chair of Pharmacology, Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome

1 The neurotoxic effects elicited by paraquat after systemic and intracerebral injection were studied in rats.

2 Intrahippocampal microinfusion of paraquat (0.1 µmol) produced behavioural stimulation and electrocortical (ECoG) excitation followed, at 24 h, by multifocal brain damage. Similarly, microinfusion of paraquat (0.2-0.4 µmol) into the locus coeruleus, substantia nigra or into the raphe nuclei, where noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons are present, respectively, elicited potent excitotoxic effects (n=6 rats per dose and area). A lower dose (0.01 µmol) of the herbicide or injection of the vehicle (1.0 µl) did not produce any behavioural, ECoG or neurodegenerative effect.

3 After systemic administration, paraquat (20 mg kg^-1 s.c.) evoked limbic motor seizures and ECoG epileptogenic discharges; in 10 out of 15 treated rats neuronal cell death was observed in the pyriform cortex, but not in other brain regions. A dose of 5 mg kg^-1 was ineffective.

4 Among the regions of the brain studied, high concentrations of paraquat were detected in the pyriform cortex 24 h after systemic administration (5.0 and 20 mg kg ^-1 s.c.) lower levels being observed in the caudate nucleus.

5 In conclusion, paraquat, given systemically or intracerebrally in rats produces neurodegenerative effects.

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 11, No. 6, 535-539 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/096032719201100616


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?