Effects of Styrene on Peripheral Nerve Conduction Velocities in Rats

Abstract

Effects of Styrene on Peripheral Nerve Conduction Velocities in Rats: Tadashi Yamamoto, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, Osaka City University Medical School—The effects of styrene on the peripheral nerves were studied by measuring conduction velocities of the tail nerve in 24 male Wistar rats which had been exposed to 0 (control), 200 and 2,000 ppm of styrene (8 rats for each concentration) for 32 wk (8 h/dx5 d/wk), from the age of 8 wk, and in the same number of rats which received the same treatment since they were 4 wk of age. Motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), distal latency (DL) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) were determined at 2‐wk intervals from the age of 8 wk to 16 wk after the end of exposure. Body weight in the 2,000 ppm (start at 4 and 8 wk of age) and 200 ppm (start at 4 wk of age) exposure groups were significantly lower than in the control group. MCV and DL in the all exposure groups were not significantly different from the control group. SCV in the 2,000 ppm (start at 4 and 8 wk of age) and 200 ppm (start at 8 wk of age) exposure groups were significantly lower than in the control group during the styrene exposure. After discontinuation of exposure, SCV remained small in the 2,000 ppm group (start at 4 wk) compared with that in the controls, but showed recovery in the other exposure groups. The effects on the decrease in SCV were greater in the distal than in the proximal area.