Impact of gasoline inhalation on some neurobehavioural characteristics of male rats

Amal A Kinawy

doi:10.1186/1472-6793-9-21

Abstract

BackgroundThis paper examines closely and compares the potential hazards of inhalation of two types of gasoline (car fuel). The first type is the commonly use leaded gasoline and the second is the unleaded type enriched with oxygenate additives as lead substituent in order to raise the octane number. The impacts of gasoline exposure on Na+, K+-ATPase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), total protein, reduced glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) in the cerebral cortex, and monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and hypothalamus were evaluated. The effect of gasoline exposure on the aggressive behaviour tests was also studied.ResultsThe present results revealed that gasoline inhalation induced significant fluctuations in the levels of the monoamine neurotransmitters in the studied brain regions. This was concomitant with a decrease in Na+, K+-ATPase activity and total protein content. Moreover, the group exposed to the unleaded gasoline exhibited an increase in lipid peroxidation and a decrease in AChE and superoxide dismutase activities. These physiological impairments were accompanied with a higher tendency towards aggressive behaviour as a consequence to gasoline inhalation.ConclusionIt is concluded from the present work that chronic exposure to either the leaded or the unleaded gasoline vapours impaired the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and other biochemical parameters in different brain areas and modulated several behavioural aspects related to aggression in rats.

Highlights

This paper examines closely and compares the potential hazards of inhalation of two types of gasoline
Data in table 1 show that the rats exposed to unleaded gasoline exhibited a decrease in the content of norepinephrine of the cerebral cortex in comparison with the control group
Data in table 2 reveal that the norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin in the group exposed to the unleaded gasoline were lower than those of the control group

Summary

Introduction

This paper examines closely and compares the potential hazards of inhalation of two types of gasoline (car fuel). The effect of gasoline exposure on the aggressive behaviour tests was studied. Gasoline is the generic term for petroleum fuel used mainly for internal combustion engines. It is complex, volatile, and highly flammable and contains over 500 saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms. After gasoline application to skin, a decrease in glutathione concentration, glutathione S -transferase activity, and lipid peroxidation was observed in liver and brain [3]. Gasoline-induced neurotoxic effects such as ataxia, tremor, acute or subacute encephalopathic syndrome were ascribable to intentional use (gasoline sniffing) and not to occupational exposure. Gasoline sniffing has become an increasingly rising phenomenon in the poor societies as a means for cheap mood alteration [4]

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Discussion

Conclusion