Effect of “Toluene Sniffing” on Pre- and Postnatal Development of Rats

Éva Szakmáry1 György Ungváry2 Aranka Hudák1, Veronika Morvai3, and Edit Szépvölgyi1

1 National Institute of Occupational Health, József Fodor National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
2 József Fodor National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary
3 2nd Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary
   
Corresponding author: Éva Szakmáry, Ph. D.
    National Institute of Occupational Health
    József Fodor National Center for Public Health
    P.O. Box 51, H-1450 Budapest, Hungary
    Telephone: Tel.: (+36) 1 215 7890
    Fax number: (36) 1 216 9907
    E-mail: ncph@elender.hu

CEJOEM 1999, Vol.5. No.3-4.:302-312

Key words:
Toluene sniffing, embryotoxic effect, postnatal development, learning ability
 
Abstract:
Modelling toluene abuse (“toluene sniffing”) in rat experiments, we investigated whether toluene inhaled in high concentration has an embryotoxic and/or teratogenic effect, and “toluene sniffing” carried out during gestation (prenatally) causes postnatal damages of the offspring. Three groups of pregnant CFY rats inhaled toluene during the gestation once, twice, or three times a day, respectively, by an open mask until they were narcotized; a fourth group of animals was not exposed to toluene (control). On the day 21 of gestation, from each group 20 pregnant animals (and their embryos) were processed using standard methods of experimental teratology. From each group, the postnatal development of the offspring of further 5 animals was followed for 90 days after birth. The issues of the development were registered and the maturation of the nervous system was evaluated. It was found that along with dose-dependent minor maternal toxic effects “toluene sniffing” increases the frequency of embryos with skeletal retardation (significant delay of sternal ossification), and of supernumerary ribs. Prenatal “toluene sniffing” had practically no effect on functions of vital character and on the events of macroscopic body development. “Toluene sniffing” damages the (postnatal) development of the animals' nervous system, their “learning” and “remembering” abilities.

Received:  07 March 2000
Accepted:  13 March 2000
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