Mechanisms of Oxygen Toxicity and Methods of Protection.

Abstract

The mechanism by which oxygen causes convulsions is not clear. Although man biochemical changes in brain have been reported to occur as a result of oxygen exposure, these changes are not necessarily the cause of oxygen-induced convulsions. From in vivo studies in mice, inhibition of brain energy metabolism was not found. Furthermore, although oxygen caused an increased oxidation of pyridine nucleotides, the decrease in both NADPH and NADH in cerebral cortex was not-related to the susceptibility fo mice to oxygen convulsions. GABA in brain cortex was decreased by oxygen, however, this decrease did not influence the susceptibility of mice to oxygen convulsions. The most effective CNS protectants seem to be those agents containing a disulfide bridge in their molecular structure, and which can be reduced to thiols. Since thiols are good free radical scavengers, free radicals may be the initial event in provoking the insult to produce oxygen convulsions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 13, 1984
Accession Number
ADA145830

Entities

People

  • M. D. Faiman

Organizations

  • University of Kansas

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Alkenes
  • Antioxidants
  • Brain
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Chemistry
  • Free Radicals
  • Glucose
  • Glutamates
  • Glutamic Acid
  • High Pressure
  • Inhibition
  • Metabolism
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Seizures
  • Toxicity
  • Vitamin E

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Neuroscience
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology