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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Edling, C. Articles by Långström, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Edling, C. Articles by Långström, B. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Positron emission tomography studies of healthy volunteers-no effects on the dopamine terminals and synthesis after short term exposure to toluene

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala

B. Hellman

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala

B. Arvidson

Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Uppsala

G. Johansson

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Uppsala, Department of Toxicology and Chemistry, National Institute for Working Life, Solna, Sweden

J. Andersson

Uppsala University PET Centre

P. Hartvig

Uppsala University PET Centre

S. Valind

Uppsala University PET Centre

B. Långström

Uppsala University PET Centre

Despite extensive research, the mechanisms for the effects of organic solvents on the central nervous system are still unknown. One mechanism proposed is that solvents interfere with the synthesis of neurotransmitters. In the present study 11 male healthy volunteers were exposed during 15 min to 100 p.p.m. toluene at light physical exercise, and the dopamine decarboxylase activity and number of terminals in putamen were measured before and after exposure by positron emission tomography. Two different tracers were used, [β-¹¹C]L-DOPA for decarbox ylase activity during the in vivo synthesis of dopamine, and [¹¹C] nomifensine to estimate the number of terminals. Although there was a slight increase in the rate of dopamine synthesis in the putamen after the exposure, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.4). No effect was observed with regard to the uptake of nomifensine. There was no significant relationship between the dose of toluene and rate of dopamine synthesis, and no significant correlation between the time from end of exposure to start of the PET-camera and DOPA. Our findings indicate that short term exposure to 100 p.p.m. of toluene does not affect the rate of dopamine synthesis or the number of presynaptic terminals.

Key Words: dopamine • humans • nomifensine • positron emission tomography • toluene

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 16, No. 3, 171-176 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/096032719701600307


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

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments--2004/2005 International Journal of Toxicology, March 1, 2006; 25(2_suppl): 1 - 89. [Full Text] [PDF]