Effects of 2-phenoxyethanol on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated ion currents

The actions were examined of 17 frequently used glycol ether compounds on t he glutamate receptor-mediated ion currents. The receptors were expressed i n Xenopus oocytes by injection of rat brain mRNA. Most of the 17 glycol eth ers exerted no effects on the glutamate subreceptors activated by kainate a nd N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), whereas 2-phenoxyethanol (ethylene glycol m onophenyl ether) caused a considerable reduction of NMDA-induced membrane c urrents in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner. The threshold c oncentration of the ethylene glycol monophenyl ether effect was <10 mu mol/ l. The concentration for a 50% inhibition (IC50) was similar to 360 mu mol/ l. The results indicate a neurotoxic potential for 2-phenoxyethanol.