Toxic effects of acute inhalation exposure to 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene) in experimental animals.

Abstract

Neurotoxic and sensory respiratory irritation effects of 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene) in male rats and male Balb/C mice were investigated in the condition of acute inhalation exposure. Rotarod performance and pain sensitivity behaviour were tested in rats exposed to durene at concentrations of 880, 1100 and 1280 mg/m3 immediately after termination of a four-hour exposure. The respiratory rate was measured in mice by the whole body pletysmographic method in a 6-min exposure to various concentrations of durene. Exposure to durene resulted in concentration-dependent decrease in pain sensitivity in rats and depression of respiratory rate in mice. At applied durene concentrations, no statistically significant disturbances in rotarod performance behaviour were observed. The concentration depressing the respiratory rate to 50% (RD50) was 838 mg/m3. As based on RD50 value, MAC of 25 mg/m3 is suggested for durene.

• Authors: Z Korsak, W Majcherek, K Rydzyński
• Journal: International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health (Int J Occup Med Environ Health) Vol. 11 Issue 3 Pg. 267-72 ( 1998) ISSN: 1232-1087 [Print] Poland
• PMID: 9844309 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Benzene Derivatives
• durene

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Animals
• Benzene Derivatives (administration & dosage, toxicity)
• Confidence Intervals
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Hypesthesia (chemically induced)
• Male
• Maximum Allowable Concentration
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Pain (physiopathology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Reaction Time (drug effects)
• Reference Values
• Respiration (drug effects)
• Survival Rate