Polyneuropathies and CNS Protein Metabolism. I. Description of the Acrylamide Syndrome in Rats

Abstract

Behavioural, histological and metabolic studies were performed on acrylamide‐intoxicated rats. Treated rats showed disturbed food and water consumption accompanied by loss of body weight. In addition, in an open field test they displayed less ambulation and rearing activity than controls, and had severe difficulties in balancing on a rotating rod. The last test gives a reliable indication of the acryla‐mide‐induced disorder before the onset of histological changes. In the discussion it is suggested that the data question the neurotoxic selectivity of acrylamide.

The effects of acrylamide treatment upon the dopamine receptor

“…treated rats are polydipsic suggesting that a certain water inbalance may exist in these animals (Gipon et al, 1977;Squibb and Tilson, unpublished observation).…”

“…This chemical appears to damage nerve tissue selectively and has been known for some time to cause peripheral neuropathies (Fullerton and Barnes, 1966;Pleasure et al, 1970;Schaumberg et al, 1974). More recently central nervous system involvement in acrylamide poisoning has also been reported in experimental animals (Ghetti et al, 1973;Gipon et al, 1977;Schotman et al, 1978;Schaumburg and Spencer, 1978). Acrylamide poisoning leading to distinct 89 central nervous system behavioral deficits and encephalopathy has also been reported (Fujita et al, 1961;Igisu et al, 1975).…”

Polyneuropathies and CNS Protein Metabolism. Ii. Changes in the Incorporation Rate of Leucine During Acrylamide Intoxication

“…It has been shown that rats treated with acrylamide either 20 mg/kg/day or 50 mg/kg/day showed a decrease in food intake and failed to grow normally (Gipon et al, 1977). Therefore, a pair-fed control group, injected with saline and fed the same amount of food as was consumed by the acrylamide-treated group the day before, was also investigated.…”

“…For this reason, a group of animals (group D) treated with a relatively high cumulative dose of acrylamide (450 mg/kg) was compared not only with saline-treated controls given food ad libitum, but at the same time with saline-treated controls pair-fed with the experimental animals (Table 1). (For details on food intake and body weight, see Gipon et al, 1977). The incorporation rates after injection of [3H]-leucine were determined as before.…”

“…Though this latter finding might be explained by a decrease in protein synthesis, alternative interpretations are possible. Suitable conditions for following the process of acrylamide intoxication leading to a severe neuropathy, have been established (Gipon et al, 1977). In the present study an attempt has been undertaken to relate the appearance of and recovery from the neuropathy with protein synthesis rates in spinal cord and brain stem.…”