Development of physiological and Behavioral Measures of Acute Chemical Neurotoxicity

摘要

U.S. military personnel may be exposed to a wide variety of potentially toxic chemicals. The chemicals personnel may encounter, particularly in combat situations, often are neurotoxicants. Predeployment screening methods such as behavioral and physiological measurements can be used to rapidly assess these potential health hazards. The objectives of this research were: (1) to develop and use computer aided methods in evaluation of neurotoxicity; (2) to evaluate physiological and behavioral endpoints of neurotoxicity in fish following exposure to the organophosphates malathion and diazinon; a carbamate, carbaryl; a metal, cadmium; a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, pyrene; a biocide, fenvalerate; and a simulated semi-permeable membrane device mixture, malathion and fenvalerate; and, to assess the correlation between physiology and behavior; (3) to adapt neurotoxic methods for use with passive sentinel monitoring devices; and (4) to provide instrumental protocols, standardized operating procedures, and quality control for neurotoxicity monitoring. These objectives were achieved. Results indicated strong correlations between behavioral indices and brain cholinesterase activity when animals were exposed to traditional cholinesterase inhibitors. Correlations with other chemicals were less clear and indicate the need for mechanistic studies associated with other chemical classes that may be important to military personnel.