Some Acute and Chronic Effects of Endrin on the Brain

Abstract

The data presented in the paper suggest that aerial applicator personnel exposed to endrin may be subject to two hitherto underfined toxic risks: (1) sensory disturbances which may appear after acute exposure at doses too low to produce tremors and other gross signs of posioning; (2) under some circumstances, endrin stored in body fat may be released in amounts sufficient to cause poisoning. The effects of endrin on the brain were determined in anesthetized pigeons and in non-anesthetized squirrel monkeys with chronically implanted electrodes. In the pigeon, endrin (0.5 mg/kg) selectively affected neuronal excitability in a visual projection pathway homologous to the recently described Nucleus Lateralis Posterior Thalami--Inferior Temporal Gyrus visual system in the higher mammals. Endrin was administered chronically to the squirrel monkeys. Electroencephalographic changes occurred at dose levels which were approximately 25% those which induced tremors, seizures and the other signs generally considered pathognomonic for endrin poisoning. Three months after endrin administration was stopped, seizures could be induced in the poisoned monkeys in a 'stress' situation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0715452

Entities

People

  • Alvin M. Revzin

Organizations

  • Federal Aviation Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Birds
  • Brain
  • Central Nervous System
  • Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Hazards
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Medical Personnel
  • Nervous System
  • Pest Control
  • Pesticides
  • Rodents
  • Secondary Waves
  • Squirrel Monkeys
  • Surgery
  • Toxic Actions

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Neurotoxicology