Functional observational battery comparing effects of ethanol, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, ether, and flurothyl

doi:10.1016/0892-0362(96)00064-5

Neurotoxicology and Teratology

Volume 18, Issue 5, September–October 1996, Pages 577-585

https://doi.org/10.1016/0892-0362(96)00064-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Several recent reports have demonstrated that acute solvent exposure in animals produces a profile of neurobehavioral effects similar to that of classical CNS depressant drugs such as the barbiturates and ethanol. The present investigation further delineated the behavioral pharmacology of three solvents [1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE), ether, and flurothyl] using a functional observational battery (FOB) composed of 21 qualitative and quantitative measures of behavior. The profiles of acute effects produced by TCE and ether were similar to one another and similar to the profile of effects produced by the IP administration of ethanol. This profile of depressant effects included changes in posture, decreased arousal, disturbances in gait, decreased forelimb grip strength, increased landing foot splay, and impaired psychomotor coordination. Flurothyl exposure also produced dose-related effects on many of the measures in the FOB; however, unlike the depressant vapors, flurothyl did not affect measures of muscle tone and equilibrium such as forelimb grip strength and landing foot splay, or measures of sensorimotor reactivity, including the touch response and tail pinch response. In addition, flurothyl produced handling-induced convulsions in some mice. Recovery from the acute effects of these vapors was rapid and began within minutes of removal from the exposure chamber. These results provide further evidence that exposure to certain solvents produces a profile of reversible effects qualitatively similar to that produced by depressant drugs and alcohol, and that the FOB can be used to compare and contrast profiles of depressant and excitatory effects of inhalants.

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ArticleFunctional observational battery comparing effects of ethanol, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, ether, and flurothyl

Abstract

Psychosomatics

Drug Alcohol Depend.

Drug Alcohol Depend.

Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.

Neurotoxicol. Teratol.

Food Chem. Toxicol.

Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.

Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.

Neurotoxicol. Teratol.

Life Sci.

Fundam. Appl. Toxicol.

Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.

Pharmacology of flurothyl: laboratory and clinical applications

Article
Functional observational battery comparing effects of ethanol, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, ether, and flurothyl