Ebook: Recent Advances in Nervous System Toxicology

This volume addresses some facets of the adverse actions of chemical agents on the central and peripheral nervous systems in developing and mature states. Some of the effects of these chemicals are short-lasting and rapidly reversible; others, especially those that cause structural damage to the nervous system, may result in permanent damage to the organism. The nervous system has several levels of vulnerability to toxic substances. Some substances perturb ion channels or synaptic mechanisms required for the orderly transfer of electrochemical information within the nervous system. Others disrupt sites required for the maintenance of cellular integrity, and these variably result in degenerative responses of neurons and myelinating cells. Further sites of vulnerability include the delicate neural vasculature and neurohumeral mechanisms responsible for physiological homeostasis. The science of neurotoxicology inevitably is a multidisciplinary endeavor, with contributions from biochemistry, physiology, morphology and behavior, to name a few. The challenge is to apply appropriate techniques to investigate neurotoxic phenomena. The first logical step in this analysis is to determine from the point of view of the nervous system the nature of the exposure. Is the chemical a single or multiple entity; is it metabolized; how does it gain access to neural tissue? Once these factors are understood, changes induced by the exposure can be described at various levels from the biochemical to the behavioral.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Nervous System as a Target For Toxic Agents....Pages 3-21
Towards the Molecular Basis of Toxic Neuropathies....Pages 23-42
Biochemical Contributions to Neurotoxicology....Pages 43-65
Metabolic Activation of Neurotoxicants....Pages 67-86
Membrane Effects of Neurotoxic Chemicals....Pages 87-89
Mode of Action of Pyrethroid Insecticides....Pages 91-105
Excitotoxins and Animal “Models” of Human Disease....Pages 107-131
Retinotoxic Agents and its Pathogenesis....Pages 133-159
Front Matter....Pages 161-161
Analysis Of Neurotoxic Disease: The Acrylamide Experience....Pages 163-176
Neurotoxic Effects of Metals and Their Interactions....Pages 177-202
Organophosphorus Compounds....Pages 203-246
The Delayed Polyneuropathy Caused by Some Organophosphorus Esters....Pages 247-257
Central Nervous System Effects of Lead: A Study Model in Neurotoxicology....Pages 259-275
Front Matter....Pages 277-277
Criteria and Strategies for Neurobehavioral Assessment....Pages 279-295
The Role of Neurochemistry in Behavioural Teratology and Toxicology....Pages 297-305
Receptor Binding Techniques in Neurotoxicology....Pages 307-349
The Use of Neurotransmitter Indices and the Deoxyglucose Technique to Assess Neurotoxic Effects....Pages 351-363
Recent Electrophysiological Techniques in Experimental Neurotoxicology....Pages 365-376
Back Matter....Pages 377-391

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
The Nervous System as a Target For Toxic Agents....Pages 3-21
Towards the Molecular Basis of Toxic Neuropathies....Pages 23-42
Biochemical Contributions to Neurotoxicology....Pages 43-65
Metabolic Activation of Neurotoxicants....Pages 67-86
Membrane Effects of Neurotoxic Chemicals....Pages 87-89
Mode of Action of Pyrethroid Insecticides....Pages 91-105
Excitotoxins and Animal “Models” of Human Disease....Pages 107-131
Retinotoxic Agents and its Pathogenesis....Pages 133-159
Front Matter....Pages 161-161
Analysis Of Neurotoxic Disease: The Acrylamide Experience....Pages 163-176
Neurotoxic Effects of Metals and Their Interactions....Pages 177-202
Organophosphorus Compounds....Pages 203-246
The Delayed Polyneuropathy Caused by Some Organophosphorus Esters....Pages 247-257
Central Nervous System Effects of Lead: A Study Model in Neurotoxicology....Pages 259-275
Front Matter....Pages 277-277
Criteria and Strategies for Neurobehavioral Assessment....Pages 279-295
The Role of Neurochemistry in Behavioural Teratology and Toxicology....Pages 297-305
Receptor Binding Techniques in Neurotoxicology....Pages 307-349
The Use of Neurotransmitter Indices and the Deoxyglucose Technique to Assess Neurotoxic Effects....Pages 351-363
Recent Electrophysiological Techniques in Experimental Neurotoxicology....Pages 365-376
Back Matter....Pages 377-391
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