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Abstract-Toluene and its metabolites have been studied with respect to their reactive oxygen speciesenhancing potential in isolated systems and in vivo. The induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was assayed using the probe 2' ,7' -dichlorodihydroftuorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). Intraperitoneal injection of toluene, benzyl alcohol or benzaldehyde caused a significant elevation in the rate of ROS formation within hepatic mitochondrial fractions (P2). In the brain, only toluene induced ROS formation, while benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde did not have any effect. Glutathione (GSH) levels were depressed in liver and brain regions from toluene-treated rats. However, no such depression was evident in brains treated with toluene metabolites. P2 fractions from phenobarbital-pretreated rats exhibited a heightened ROS response when challenged with toluene, in vitro. Pretreatment of rats in vivo with 4-methylpyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, or sodium cyanamide, an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, prior to exposure to toluene, caused a significant decrease and increase, respectively, in toluene-stimulated rates of ROS generation in the CNS and liver. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy, employing the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), was conducted. Incubation of the spin trap with P2 fractions and toluene or benzaldehyde elicited a spectrum corresponding to the hydroxyl radical. Incubation of benzaldehyde with aldehyde dehydrogenase produced a strong signal that was blocked completely by superoxide dismutase and inhibited partially by catalase, suggesting the presence of superoxide radicals and the involvement of the iron-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction leading to the production of hydroxyl radicals. Thus, ROS generation during toluene catabolism may occur at two steps: cytochrome P450 oxidation and aldehyde dehydrogenase oxidation. In addition, GSH may play an important role in protection against the induction of ROS generation in the CNS and liver following exposure to toluene.

Abstract-The effects of toluene on lipid peroxidation and rates of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation have been studied in isolated systems and in vivo. The induction of reactive oxygen species was assayed using the probe 2' ,7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). Toluene exposure (1 g/kg, 1 hr, i.p.) did not stimulate cortical lipid peroxidation as evaluated by measurement of conjugated dienes. Exposure to toluene, however, both in vivo and in vitro, caused a significant elevation of ROS formation within cortical crude synaptosomal fractions (P2) and microsomal fractions (P3). The ROSinducing properties of toluene were blocked in vivo in the presence of a mixed-function oxidase inhibitor, metyrapone. This suggested that a metabolite of toluene may catalyze reactive oxygen formation. Both benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid, in vitro, were found to have free radical quenching properties, while benzaldehyde exhibited significant induction of ROS generation. It appears that benzaldehyde is the metabolite responsible for the effect of toluene in accelerating reactive oxygen production within the nervous system. Benzaldehyde may also contribute to the overall neurotoxicity of toluene.

Summary-The induction of the activity of cerebral ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) and mRNA by electrical stimulation exhibits regional differences. The effects of the enzyme inhibitor difluoromethylornithine on these regional variations was examined. Administration of this inhibitor resulted in pronounced depression of both basal and induced activity of ornithine decarboxylase in the hippocampus. Basal activity of the enzyme in the neocortex and the cerebellum appeared to be resistant to difluoromethylornithine but the induced enzyme activity was sensitive to the effects ofthis inhibitor. Susceptibility to difluoromethylornithine may be directly correlated with a slower turnover rate for ornithine decarboxylase. These results suggest that ornithine decarboxylase in the hippocampus may possess a longer half-life than its counterparts in other regions of the brain. Pretreatment with difluoromethylornithine had no effect on the induced ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in the neocortex. Thus, elevated activity of ornithine decarboxylase enzyme, due to electrical stimulation, appears to not have any effect on either the transcription or the decay rate of the induced ornithine decarboxylase mRNA. These findings support the concept of region-specific regulation of cerebral ornithine decarboxylase.