Abstract
Several widely used aromatic hydrocarbon solvents reportedly induce blue-green discoloration of tissues and urine in animals and humans. The chomophore has been proposed to result from a ninhydrin-like reaction with amino groups in proteins. The present study examines the neurotoxic property of 1,2-diacetylbenzene (1,2-DAB), the active metabolite of the chromogenic and neurotoxic aromatic solvent 1,2-diethylbenzene. Rats treated with 1,2-DAB, but not with the nonchromogenic isomer 1,3-DAB or with ninhydrin developed blue discoloration of internal organs, including the brain and spinal cord. Only 1,2-DAB induced limb weakness associated with nerve fiber changes, which were most prominent in spinal cord and spinal roots. Changes began with the formation of proximal, neurofilament-filled axonal swellings of the type seen after treatment with 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-hexanedione, a potent derivative of the active metabolite of the neurotoxic aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents n-hexane and methyl n-butyl ketone. These compounds are metabolized to a γ-diketone that forms pyrroles with target proteins, such as neurofilament proteins. A comparable mechanism is considered for 1,2-DAB, an aromatic γ-diketone.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 121-131 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology |
Volume | 177 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2001 |
Keywords
- Aromatic solvent
- Axonopathy
- Chromophore
- Diacetylbenzene
- Diethylbenzene
- Green urine
- Neuropathy
- Ninhydrin
- Tetralin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology