EFFECTS OF ACUTE N-HEXANE AND 2,5-HEXANEDIONE TREATMENT ON THE STRIATAL DOPAMINERGIC SYSTEM IN MICE

In order to investigate the effect of n-hexane and its metabolites on the Central Nervous System (CNS), we treated mice with n-hexane and 2, 5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. Gascr omatographic mass spectrometric (GCMS) analyses of striatum and cerebe llum revealed a consistent increase of 2,5-HD concentration at 0.5 and 2 hours after treatment and a decline to baseline levels at 24 hours. Traces of 2,5-HD were detected in the brain of control animals. Bioch emical analyses revealed a precocious, short lasting, significant incr ease of striatal dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels. A s ignificant increase of striatal synaptosomal DA uptake, suggesting a D A releasing effect on the dopaminergic terminals, was also observed. T hese results support the hypothesis of a possible role of n-hexane and its metabolites in inducing parkinsonism in humans and animals.