triethyltin and trimethyltin

The toxicities of many metals, such as mercury and lead, are known to man since the dawn of civilization. Organic compounds of some heavy metals are known to have a particular toxic impact on the central nervous system. Organomercury, particularly alkyl-mercuric compounds (e.g. methylmercury), has a selective effect on the granule cells of the cerebellum, the nerve cells of the calcarine cortex, and the sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. The well known Minamata Bay disease is the result of a massive epidemic episode of human exposure to alkylmercury contaminated food sources. Mental retardation and other developmental defects are also known to be a consequence of exposure to this toxic metal. Organic lead compounds have been employed as gasoline additives and in other industrial purposes. Unlike its inorganic counterpart, organolead compounds have a more prominent impact on the central nervous system. Pathological changes of the brain stem neurons have been described. Organotin compounds have been used in plastic industries and as agricultural chemicals. Both trimethyl and triethyl tin compounds are found to be extremely neurotoxic. Despite the similarity of their chemical structures, trimethyl and triethyl tins have a diversely different toxic property and effects. While triethyl tin is myelinotoxic, producing edematous and vacuolar changes in the central myelin, trimethyl tin is neurotoxic, producing prominent toxic changes in the neurons of the limbic system (hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, etc.). The factors which determine the specificity and selectivity of the neurotoxic impacts by various organometals are still unknown. In view that most of the organometals are still widely employed by many countries for industrial and for agricultural purposes, caution must be made for their proper handling and disposure to avoid undesirable exposures to workers and environmental contamination of water sources and food-chain for the common public. Since organometals are difficult to eliminate from the central nervous system, injuries usually lead to permanent neurological deficits, such tragedies are frequently long lasting and create not only a medical problem, but also a social economical problem for the society.

Topics: Animals; Hippocampus; Humans; Lead; Mercury Poisoning; Mice; Nervous System; Organomercury Compounds; Organometallic Compounds; Organotin Compounds; Rabbits; Rats; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

The organotin compounds trimethyltin (TMT), triethyltin (TET) and tributyltin (TBT) show different organotoxicities in vivo. While TMT and TET induce a strong neurotoxicity accompanied by microglial and astroglial activation, TBT rather effects the immune system. Previously, we have shown in an in vitro co-culture model that microglial cells can be activated by TMT in the presence of astrocytes. In this study, we wanted to investigate (a) if the neurotoxic organotin compound TET can also activate microglial cells in vitro similar to TMT and (b) if differences between the neurotoxicants TMT and TET on the one side and TBT on the other exist concerning microglial activation. Therefore, purified microglial and astroglial cell cultures from neonatal rat brains were treated either alone or in co-cultures for 24h with different concentrations of TMT, TET or TBT and the basal cytotoxicity and nitric oxide formation was determined. Furthermore, morphological changes of astrocytes were examined. Our results show that microglial activation can be increased in subcytolethal concentrations, but only in the presence of astrocytes and not in microglial cell cultures alone. This increase was induced by the neurotoxicants TMT and TET but not by TBT. Taken together, the differing microglia activating effect of the organotin compounds may contribute to the differing neurotoxic potential of this group of chemicals in vivo. In addition, our results emphasize the need for co-culture systems when studying interactions between different cell types for toxicity assessment.

Topics: Animals; Astrocytes; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Microglia; Nitric Oxide; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

Trimethyltin (TMT) and triethyltin (TET) caused cell death in cultures of primary human neurons and astrocytes, rat neurons and human neuroblastoma cell lines. Human neurons and astrocytes showed a delayed response to TMT cytotoxicity. After 24h of TMT exposure, LC50 values were 148.1, 335.5 and 609.7 microM for SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cell line, neurons and astrocytes, respectively. Over 5 days of exposure, the cytotoxic potency of TMT increased about 70-fold in human cortical neurons. Rat hippocampal neurons were the most vulnerable cells to TMT cytotoxicity, exhibiting an LC50 value 30-fold lower (1.4 microM) than that of rat cerebellar granule cells (44.28 microM). With the exception of rat hippocampal neurons, TET was more potent than TMT in inducing cell death (LC50 values of 3.5-16.9 microM). Moreover, TET was more effective than TMT in increasing intracellular free Ca2+ concentration in human and rat neurons. This work shows that human fetal neuron and astrocyte cultures are a useful model for studying the neurotoxic effects of these environmental contaminants and, thus, predicting their impact on human health.

Topics: Animals; Astrocytes; Calcium; Cell Line; Fetus; Humans; Male; Neuroblastoma; Neurons; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

The neurotoxic organotin compounds trimethyl (TMT) and triethyltin (TET) are known to induce astrogliosis in vivo, which is indicated by an increased synthesis of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astrocytes. In contrast, tributyltin (TBT) does not induce astrogliosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether trialkyltin derivatives can induce an increased GFAP synthesis in astrocyte cultures in the absence of neurons and whether differences between the action of TMT, TET, and TBT can be detected. Primary cultures of rat cortical astrocytes from 2-day-old rats were grown in 96-well plates until confluency and then exposed to various concentrations of TMT, TET, and TBT for 40 h. Effects on basal cell functions were measured by colorimetric determination of cell protein contents and by assessment of viability by means of the MTT assay. An indirect sandwich ELISA for 96-well plates was used for quantitative measurements of the GFAP content of the cells. All three compounds induced a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity indicated by parallel decreases of protein contents and MTT reduction. Half-maximum cytotoxic concentrations were 3 micromol/L (TBT), 30 micromol/L (TET), and 800 micromol/L (TMT). Cellular GFAP contents were reduced in parallel to cytotoxic action but no increase in GFAP expression at subcytotoxic concentrations could be observed. Thus, the astrocytes were not able to respond to TMT or TET exposure by an increased synthesis of GFAP in the absence of neuronal signals.

Topics: Animals; Astrocytes; Cell Count; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

To understand the chemical basis of action for the PDR5-encoded multidrug resistance transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we compared the relative hypersensitivities of the wild-type (RW2802) and null mutant strains toward a series of tri-n-alkyltin compounds. These compounds differ from each other in a systematic fashion-either by hydrocarbon chain length or by anion composition. Using zone-of-inhibition and fixed-concentration assays, we found that the ethyl, propyl, and butyl compounds are strong PDR5 substrates, whereas the methyl and pentyl compounds are weak. We conclude that hydrophobicity and anion makeup are relatively unimportant factors in determining whether a tri-n-alkyltin compound is a good PDR5 substrate but that the dissociation of the compound and the molecular size are significant.

Topics: ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Fungal Proteins; Membrane Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; Solubility; Structure-Activity Relationship; Substrate Specificity; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

The environmental contaminants trimethyltin (TMT) and triethyltin (TET) stimulated the spontaneous release of [(3)H]noradrenaline ([(3)H]NA) from hippocampal slices in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. TMT was the most potent compound, exhibiting an EC50 value 10-fold lower (3.8 microM) than that of TET (39.5 microM). Metal-evoked [(3)H]NA release did not increase in the absence of desipramine and was completely blocked by reserpine preincubation, indicating a vesicular origin of [(3)H]NA release but not a mechanism involving reversal of the transmitter transporter. The voltage-gated Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) did not affect metal-evoked [(3)H]NA release. [(3)H]NA release elicited by TMT was partially extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent, since it was significantly decreased in a Ca(2+)-free EGTA-containing medium, whereas TET induced an extracellular Ca(2+)-independent release of [(3)H]NA. Neither inhibitors of Ca(2+)-entry through Na(+)/Ca(2+)exchanger and voltage-gated calcium channels, nor agents that interfere with Ca(2+)-mobilization from intracellular stores affected [(3)H]NA release induced by TMT. TET-evoked [(3)H]NA release was reduced by ruthenium red, which depletes mitochondrial Ca(2+)stores, but was not modified by caffeine and thapsigargin, which interfere with Ca(2+)mobilization from endoplasmic reticulum. The fact that TET effect was also attenuated by DIDS, an inhibitor of anion exchange, indicates that the effect of TET on spontaneous [(3)H]NA release may be mediated by intracellular mobilization of Ca(2+) from mitochondrial stores through a Cl(-) dependent mechanism.

Topics: 4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; Animals; Biological Transport; Calcium; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cell Membrane; Chelating Agents; Chlorides; Desipramine; Egtazic Acid; Environmental Pollutants; Hippocampus; Ions; Male; Norepinephrine; omega-Conotoxin GVIA; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sodium; Sodium Channel Blockers; Sodium Channels; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; Tetrodotoxin; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds; Tritium

It has been demonstrated that exposure to mercury or cadmium compounds causes alterations in the glutathione system in a model glial cell line, C6. Here we report that two organic tin compounds, triethyltin (TET) and trimethyltin (TMT), are also toxic to these cells with EC50 values for cell death of c. 0.02 microM and 0.8 microM respectively. Exposure for 24 h to either of these compounds at sub-toxic concentrations caused increases in the amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) per cell. Increases in glutathione-S-transferase enzyme activity were also demonstrated after TET or TMT exposure. This suggests that glutathione increases occur in glial cells after toxic insults below that required to cause cell death, possibly acting as a protective mechanism. To test whether GSH plays a role in organotin-induced cell death we manipulated GSH in the culture media or via intracellular GSH and looked at the effects on sensitivity to TET or TMT toxicity. Adding GSH to the culture media did not protect the cells. Depletion of intracellular GSH with buthionine-[S,R] sulphoximine did not alter cytotoxicity of TET or TMT. However, pre-treatment with (-)-2-oxo-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid (OTC), which increases intracellular GSH levels, protected the cells against both compounds. The EC50 for TMT was increased from 0.77 to 1.8 microM, a 2.3-fold shift, whereas the EC50 for TET was increased > 20-fold, from 0.022 to 0.47 microM. One interpretation of these results is that GSH protects cells against the toxicity of organic tin compounds without reacting directly with them to any significant extent. Under conditions where GSH is depleted, additional protective mechanisms may be active.

Topics: Animals; Astrocytes; Glioma; Glutathione; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds; Tumor Cells, Cultured

A capillary electrophoresis (CE)-indirect UV absorbance detection method for organotin compounds is described. The five triorganotin cations, viz., trimethyltin (TMT), triethyltin (TET), tripropyltin (TPT), tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT), were efficiently separated by CE in 10 min with a 5 mM acetate buffer (pH 4.5) containing 3 mM 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). 4-AP also functioned as a UV-absorbing coion for the indirect detection of these UV-transparent organotin species. Simultaneous separation of di- and triorganotins was achieved with the addition of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) as a modifier in the electrophoresis buffer. Linearity (r > or = 0.995) of about two orders of magnitude was generally obtained. The concentration limits of detection for the organotin compounds studied were between 2 and 20 microM (as tin). The relative standard deviation (RSD) values were in the range 1.3-7.1%. The applicability of the method for the analysis of marine sediment was examined.

Topics: Calibration; Electrophoresis, Capillary; Organotin Compounds; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds; Ultraviolet Rays; Water Pollutants, Chemical

Immortalized cell lines and primary neuronal cultures were used to characterize the selective toxicity of trimethyltin (TMT),triethyltin (TET) and tributyltin (TBT). TBT and TET were cytotoxic at similar concentrations in the immortalized cell lines tested; the 50% toxic concentration (TC50) was 1 to 11 microM. In contrast, immortalized cell lines varied considerably in their sensitivity to TMT, with sensitive cell lines (neuroblastomas, T-, B-cell lines) showing TC50 values of 2 to 8 microM, whereas insensitive cells (NIH-3T3 fibroblast, HTB-14 glioma, TC-7 kidney cells) had TC 50 values > 100 microM. Primary neuronal cell cultures were very sensitive to organotins (TC50 values, 1-10nM), and showed patterns of selective toxicity with respect to neuronal and glial cells. Because organotin toxicity evolves over 24 to 48 hr. we determined whether these compounds induced apoptosis in primary cultures. TMT increased (P < .05) the fraction of apoptotic cells 6 and 12 hr after treatment with TMT at TC50 concentrations. Prior studies suggested that a protein, stannin, was localized in cells sensitive to organotins. Stannin was expressed in several TMT-sensitive cell lines (PC12, T, B cells) and in primary neurons in culture. Stannin was absent in the resistant HTB-14 glioma cell line. The role of stannin in mediating TMT toxicity in primary cultures was investigated by blocking stannin expression with specific antisense oligonucleotides. Treatment of primary cultures with antisense oligonucleotides for 48 hr before and during TMT treatment significantly protected neurons from the neurotoxic and apoptotic effects of TMT. This effect was not observed with scrambled oligonucleotide controls. Thus, TMT may induce apoptosis in sensitive cells, which is partly mediated by stannin. Based on the available data we conclude that stannin expression is necessary, but not sufficient for TMT toxicity.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Cell Line; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hippocampus; Immunohistochemistry; In Vitro Techniques; Neuropeptides; Oligonucleotides, Antisense; Organotin Compounds; Rats; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

The interaction of triethyltin (TET) and trimethyltin (TMT) with rat brain astrocytes in vitro was investigated. Both compounds are highly neurotoxic after in vivo application, cause neurobehavioral changes, and elicit neuronal and glial responses in the CNS. In this study, 5-week-old cultures were exposed to TMT or TET (0.1-2.5 microM) for 24 h. A concentration-dependent cytotoxicity was observed for both agents by vital dye uptake assay using neutral red (NR). The order of potency for half-maximal cytotoxicity (NR-50) was TET (0.7 microM) > TMT (2.5 microM), in agreement with results found after in vivo administration. TET and TMT caused similar morphological changes: large holes extending through the plasma membrane appeared initially in the flattened cell bodies, cytoplasmic extensions were retracted, and long cellular processes formed. Later, the cell bodies rounded up and had only a few extremely long and thin processes. Indirect immunofluorescence staining using anti-vimentin and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies revealed that the orderly array of the intermediate filament system was severely disturbed. At lower concentrations, an increased bundling was observed, and at higher concentrations the disassembly of the intracellular framework was seen, and cellular staining appeared rather diffuse. Western blot analysis of cellular extracts was carried out to determine the protein levels of GFAP and vimentin. In this culture system, TET and TMT caused an almost two-fold increase in the levels of GFAP at concentrations around and below NR-50, indicating that astrocytes react to organotins independently of neuronal signals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Astrocytes; Blotting, Western; Brain; Cell Death; Cell Membrane; Cells, Cultured; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Rats; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds; Vimentin

Trimethyltin (TMT) and triethyltin (TET) disrupt auditory function at doses far below those shown to be neurotoxic. In vivo studies suggest that the initial effect of TMT on hearing occurs at the inner hair cell/spiral ganglion cell synapse, while later, the outer hair cell (OHC) undergoes structural and functional damage. TET produces acute effects upon afferent neurotransmission similar to those observed following TMT, but TET's effects on OHC structure and function have not been examined. OHCs are motile elements within the cochlea, believed to modulate the sensitivity and tuning within the inner ear. Changes in OHC length may alter hearing function, and length changes have been reported following exposure to various ototoxic agents in vitro. In the present study, 77 OHCs from 45 pigmented male guinea pigs were isolated in primary culture and exposed for 90 min to concentrations between 30 microM and 1.0 mM of TMT or TET and then to bathing medium for 30 min to remove the toxicant. Significant shortening of the OHC cell body occurred at all doses to both organotins, with a mean reduction in length of 15.1 and 20.2% for 1.0 mM TMT and TET, respectively, at the end of testing; control cells were only 3.4% shorter at the end of 90 min of perfusion with bathing medium. The effect of organotin exposure on OHC volume was not consistently related to either TMT or TET concentration or altered cell length. In addition, disruption of the plasma membrane characterized by bleb formation, the forceful ejection of cytoplasm, or bursting was seen in 80% of cells exposed to 1.0 mM TET, although not TMT; lower concentrations of both organotins disrupted the cell membrane in 10-30% of cells. Membrane rupture was not reliably associated with either increased cell volume or decreased length, implicating a weakening of the plasma membrane or cortical lattice as the basis for this effect. Consistent with the irreversible structural weakening of the lateral wall, resorption of organotin-induced cytoplasmic blebs was never evidenced. Qualitatively, subcellular elements in the central core of many organotin-treated OHCs appeared pathological. These changes are similar to histopathological changes observed following in vivo organotin administration and may represent one target of acute alkyltin ototoxicity.

Topics: Animals; Cell Size; Cell Survival; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guinea Pigs; Hair Cells, Auditory; Male; Osmolar Concentration; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

Triorganotins have been reported to affect heme metabolism as well as the cardiovascular system. Our recent studies indicated that these organotins inhibit cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-transport and cAMP-stimulated phosphorylation of specific proteins involved in Ca2+ transport, suggesting their interference with cardiac adrenergic function. The present study determines the effect of three organotins--tributyltin bromide (TBT), triethyltin bromide (TET) and trimethyltin chloride (TMT)--on rat cardiac ATPases and catecholamine binding, since these phenomena are involved in cardiac function. Cardiac membrane fraction was prepared from heart ventricles of male Sprague-Dawley rats. All three organotins inhibited cardiac Na+,K(+)-ATPase, [3H]ouabain binding, K(+)-activated p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (K(+)-PNPPase) and oligomycin-sensitive (OS) and oligomycin-insensitive (OI) Mg(2+)-ATPase in a concentration-dependent manner. K(+)-PNPPase was less sensitive to these triorganotins when compared to Na+K(+)-ATPase, suggesting that triorganotins affect the Na(+)-pump activity by acting on the Na(+)-dependent phosphorylation process. OS Mg(2+)-ATPase was more sensitive to these organotins when compared to OI Mg(2+)-ATPase, confirming their potent effect on the enzymes of oxidative phosphorylation. The order of potency is TBT greater than TET greater than TMT. TET and TMT, but not TBT, inhibited [3H]norepinephrine and [3H]dopamine binding to cardiac membranes in a concentration-dependent manner, the effect being more with TET. These results suggest that triorganotins inhibit sodium pump activity as well as ATP synthesis. Since Na+,K(+)-ATPase is involved in the active transport of catecholamines, triorganotins not only inhibited the catecholamine transport but also to some extent affected catecholamine binding, thus interfering with cardiac function.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphatases; Animals; Catecholamines; Heart; In Vitro Techniques; Male; Myocardium; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

In vitro effects of three triorganotins--tributyltin (TBT), triethyltin (TET), and trimethyltin (TMT)--on calmodulin (CaM) activity were studied. Stimulation of Ca2(+)-ATPase of rat brain synaptic membranes and phosphodiesterase (PDE) of bovine brain were assayed as indicators of CaM activity. The rat synaptic membranes were prepared and CaM was depleted by washing with 1 mM EGTA. All the three organotins inhibited the basal as well as CaM-stimulated Ca2(+)-ATPase in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting their interaction with calcium pump. However, CaM-stimulated Ca2(+)-ATPase was more sensitive than the basal enzyme. The order of potency of the three organotin compounds was TBT greater than TET greater than TMT. The IC50 values of Ca2(+)-ATPase (basal) were 0.63, 35, and approximately 800 microM, respectively, whereas the values for CaM-stimulated Ca2(+)-ATPase were 0.05, 0.8, and 18 microM for TBT, TET, and TMT, respectively. CaM-deficient PDE did not show any sensitivity to these three organotin compounds, while TBT and TET significantly decreased the CaM-stimulated PDE activity. TMT, which was the least effective inhibitor of Ca2+ pump, did not alter PDE activity. Further, the inhibition of CaM-stimulated Ca2(+)-ATPase activity by these organotins could be reversed by excess addition of CaM. These results suggest that the organotins interact with CaM activity, as evidenced by their potent effect on CaM-dependent Ca2(+)-ATPase and PDE activities.

Topics: Animals; Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Calmodulin; Male; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Solubility; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

Effects of several alkylmetals on free intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, were studied in vitro using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2. Neurotoxic alkylmetals methylmercury (Met-Hg), triethyllead (TEL), triethyltin (TET), and trimethyltin (TMT) (at 2.5-30 microM) increased [Ca2+]i to different degrees. Met-Hg was the most potent, elevating [Ca2+]i 100-800 nM, dose dependently and significantly more than high K+ (150 nM) or veratridine (350 nM). The effect of Met-Hg could not be inhibited with a Ca2+ channel blocker, verapamil, nor with a Na+ channel blocker, tetrodotoxin. Inhibition of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in situ with rotenone + oligomycin decreased the potency of Met-Hg to elevate [Ca2+]i but did not change the resting [Ca2+]i. Met-Hg also slightly decreased synaptosomal ATP. TEL and TET elevated [Ca2+]i by 100-200 nM. The effect of TEL, but not that of TET, could be blocked with verapamil (36%) and veratridine (67%). TEL was less efficient in the presence of ouabain. Neither TEL nor TET had significant mitochondrial effects in situ contributing to [Ca2+]i. TMT increased [Ca2+]i less than TET while dimethyltin and methyltin were inactive. These results indicate that neurotoxic derivatives of alkylmetals studied increase [Ca2+]i. This occurs mainly either by nonspecific increase (Met-Hg, TET) of Ca2+ leakage through the plasma membrane and/or specific interference with the mechanisms regulating Ca2+ fluxes through the plasma membrane (TEL).

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Calcium; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ion Channels; Male; Mathematics; Methylmercury Compounds; Mitochondria; Oligomycins; Organometallic Compounds; Ouabain; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Rotenone; Synaptosomes; Tetrodotoxin; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds; Veratridine

A noninvasive system is described for continuous recording of behaviors in the home cages of rats. Commercially available mesh cages were used so as to conform with housing conditions in most toxicological studies. A minicomputer controlled environmental lighting and recorded eating, drinking, rearing, and horizontal activity. The system's sensitivity was comparable to more complex systems. Validity was demonstrated through manipulation of environmental lighting, food deprivation, and the effects of amphetamine, scopolamine, ethanol, methylscopolamine, triethyltin, and trimethyltin. Advantages over other systems are practicality, economy, the simultaneous analyses of several naturalistic behaviors of individual rats, and the quantification of diurnal rhythms.

Topics: Amphetamine; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Circadian Rhythm; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Fasting; Feeding Behavior; Monitoring, Physiologic; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Scopolamine; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

Cadmium (Cd), triethyltin (TET), and trimethyltin (TMT) are heavy metals which are neurotoxic to developing animals. In the present experiment, preweaning assessment of locomotor activity was used to detect and differentiate between the developmental toxicity of these metals. On postnatal day (PND) 5, rat pups received a single injection of either Cd, TET, or TMT. A within-litter design was used for dosing; 1 male and 1 female pup from each litter (N = 10 litters/compound) received either the vehicle, low, medium, or high dosage of the compound. Preweaning motor activity was assessed in 30-min sessions in figure-eight mazes from PND 13 to 21. Motor activity of control animals progressively increased in the initial days of testing, and then both within-session and between-session habituation developed. A single exposure to Cd, TET, and TMT produced hyperactivity by the end of the preweaning period but these metals differed in the day of peak activity, the onset of hyperactivity, and the development of habituation.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Suckling; Body Weight; Cadmium; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Male; Metals; Motor Activity; Rats; Sex Factors; Time Factors; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

Rats were trained to respond under a schedule of reinforcement in which only those responses separated by a 10-to 14-sec period of no responding produced a feed pellet (DRL 10 to 14 sec). Each rat received a single dose of trimethyltin (TMT) (5.6, 7.5, or 10 mg/kg) or triethyltin (TET) 1, 3, 4.25, or 5.6 mg/kg). The lowest dose of TMT (5.6 mg/kg) and the lowest dose of TET (1 mg/kg) were without significant effect. At 7.5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg TMT, the percentage of the total responses spaced 10 to 14 sec apart decreased over the first 8 to 12 days after TMT. Those rats receiving 7.5 mg/kg TMT gradually returned to control values over the next 2 to 3 weeks while those rats receiving 10 mg/kg never recovered. Rats receiving 3, 4.25, and 5.6 mg/kg TET showed a decrease in the percentage of reinforced responses immediately after receiving TET. The behavior of those rats receiving 3 mg/kg returned to control values in 24 hr. Following 4.25 mg/kg TET, the health of the rats deteriorated rapidly. They were kept alive through heroic measures, but then were killed after testing on the 12th day following TET due to their failing health. At 5.6 mg/kg, the rats were killed on the 4th day due to failing health. These results indicate that TMT and TET differ with respect to potency and time course. The behavioral deficits produced by TET parallel the time course of general toxicity while the behavioral effects of acute TMT administration can persist in time long after the general appearance of the rats has returned to normal.

Topics: Animals; Conditioning, Psychological; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Male; Rats; Reinforcement Schedule; Time Factors; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds

The effect of four different alkyltins (trimethyltin, triethyltin, dibutyltin, and dioctyltin) on the metabolism of rabbit articular and growth-plate chondrocytes was investigated using a monolayer cell-culture system. In most instances the compounds tested exhibited a general cytotoxic effect on these cells, inhibiting the synthesis of both DNA and sulfated proteoglycans. The effect of these compounds on proteoglycan synthesis was both quantitative and qualitative, as demonstrated by CsCl isopycnic density gradient centrifugation and gel exclusion chromatographic techniques. However, certain tin compounds tested, at specific concentrations, exerted a stimulatory effect on chondrocyte proliferation. Regarding DNA synthesis, growth-plate chondrocytes were more sensitive to the effect of the triethyltin, dibutyltin, and dioctyltin than were articular chondrocytes. The data are discussed in relation to the possible effects of the alkyltins on skeletal growth and development as well as the mechanism of action of the alkyltins at the molecular level.

Topics: Animals; Cartilage, Articular; Cells, Cultured; Centrifugation, Isopycnic; DNA Replication; Epiphyses; Female; Glycosaminoglycans; Organotin Compounds; Proteoglycans; Rabbits; Sulfates; Trialkyltin Compounds; Triethyltin Compounds; Trimethyltin Compounds