2,6-dichlorophenyl methylsulphone induced behavioural impairments in rats and mice in relation to olfactory mucosal metaplasia

Effects of dichlorobenzene on acetylcholine receptors in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

para-Dichlorobenzene (DCB), a deodorant and an industrial chemical, is a highly volatile compound and is known to be an indoor air contaminant. Because of its widespread use and volatility, the toxicity of DCB presents a concern to industrial workers and public. Some toxic aspects of DCB have already been focused but its effects on neuronal signal transduction have been hitherto unknown. The effects of DCB on the cytosolic calcium homeostasis are investigated in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in this study. DCB, above 200 microM, was found to induce a rise in cytosolic calcium concentration that could not be counteracted by nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) antagonists but was partially inhibited by thapsigargin. To understand the actions of DCB on the acetylcholine receptors, we investigated its effects on the changes of cytosolic calcium concentration following nicotinic AChR stimulation with epibatidine and muscarinic AChR stimulation with methacholine in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. DCB inhibited the cytosolic calcium concentration rise induced by epibatidine and methacholine with respective IC(50)s of 34 and 294 microM. The inhibitions of DCB were not the same as thapsigargin's inhibition. In the electrophysiological observations, DCB blocked the influx currents induced by epibatidine. Our findings suggest that DCB interferes with the functional activities of AChR, including its coupling influx currents and cytosolic calcium elevations.

Norharman-induced motoric impairment in mice: neurodegeneration and glial activation in substantia nigra

The beta-carboline norharman is present in cooked food and tobacco smoke and show structural resemblance to the neurotoxicant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with norharman (3 and 10 mg/kg) twice per day for five consecutive days. Eighteen hours after the last dose an increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and fluoro-jade staining were demonstrated whereas the number of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells were unchanged in the substantia nigra. Two weeks after the last treatment a decreased motor activity was observed whereas cognitive functions remained intact. In cultured PC12 cells norharman treatment induced mitochondrial dysfunction and increased the number of caspase-3 and TUNEL-positive cells. The results demonstrate that norharman induced apoptosis in cultured cells as well as early neurodegeneration, glial activation and sustained motor deficits in mice and suggest that exposure to norharman may contribute to idiopathic Parkinson's disease.