Abstract

Some organic solvents cause severe and irreversible damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems. In animals, the extent of such damage may be assessed through biopsy and analysis of brain tissue, but this method is clearly not applicable to human subjects. Transcription of certain brain genes is known to take place in blood cells as well, although at low levels. This suggests the possibility of using blood-based transcription as an indicator of preclinical modifications to the brain and other inaccessible organs caused by environmental toxins.

The utility of this type of non-invasive biological marker will be evaluated in a laboratory study. Rats will be exposed to organic solvents and the blood-based transcription of selected specific brain genes correlated to the extent of cerebral trauma revealed by histological examination. Results in exposed and unexposed animals will be compared.