Abstract
A single oral administration of allylnitrile, crotononitrile or 2-pentenenitrile in rats induced behavioral abnormalities, such as head-twitching, head weaving, hindlimb abduction, backward pedaling and pivoting. The head-twitching, which was most consistently observed, was suppressed by serotonin (5-HT) antagonists, cyproheptadine or methysergide or by the 5-HT depleter, dl- p-chlorophenylalanine but was accentuated by the 5-HT releaser, dl- p-chloroamphetamine. The results suggest that the 5-HT system is involved in producing the behavioral abnormalities. To discover the effects of allylnitrile, crotononitrile and 2-pentenenitrile on the metabolism of 5-HT and dopamine, 6 areas of the brain of the rat were examined on days 1,6, 15 and 30 after injection. Each of the nitriles caused significant increases in the level of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and in the ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT, one day after injection. The increase in 5-HIAA was most remarkable, suggesting an enhancement of the serotonergie system. The three nitriles had no effect on the metabolism of dopamine, over a period of 30 days.
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