TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurotoxic aspects of porphyrinopathies
T2 - Lead and succinylacetone
AU - Silbergeld, Ellen K.
AU - Hruska, Robert E.
AU - Bradley, Diane
AU - Lamon, Joel M.
AU - Frykholm, Bruce C.
PY - 1982/12
Y1 - 1982/12
N2 - Neurotoxic effects of heavy metals and polyhalogenated hydrocarbons frequently occur at low levels of exposure, in some cases below those levels where direct toxic actions of these compounds have been demonstrated. Since alterations in heme synthesis are effects common to many of these compounds, the potential role of altered heme synthesis in producing or contributing to their neurotoxicity was studied. Rats with acute and chronic lead exposure were compared to rats whose heme synthesis was inhibited by succinylacetone, as a semichronic model of the hereditary heme synthesis disorder, acute intermittent porphyria. Both treatments produce significant inhibition in activity of the enzyme δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase and elevations in the heme precursor δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in tissues and urine. Associated with increased ALA is a significant inhibition of neurotransmission utilizing the amino acid γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), expressed chemically and behaviorally. The results suggest that in addition to their direct molecular neurotoxicity, porphyrinopathic compounds such as lead may, through altering heme synthesis, adversely affect the brain at low levels of exposure.
AB - Neurotoxic effects of heavy metals and polyhalogenated hydrocarbons frequently occur at low levels of exposure, in some cases below those levels where direct toxic actions of these compounds have been demonstrated. Since alterations in heme synthesis are effects common to many of these compounds, the potential role of altered heme synthesis in producing or contributing to their neurotoxicity was studied. Rats with acute and chronic lead exposure were compared to rats whose heme synthesis was inhibited by succinylacetone, as a semichronic model of the hereditary heme synthesis disorder, acute intermittent porphyria. Both treatments produce significant inhibition in activity of the enzyme δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase and elevations in the heme precursor δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in tissues and urine. Associated with increased ALA is a significant inhibition of neurotransmission utilizing the amino acid γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), expressed chemically and behaviorally. The results suggest that in addition to their direct molecular neurotoxicity, porphyrinopathic compounds such as lead may, through altering heme synthesis, adversely affect the brain at low levels of exposure.
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U2 - 10.1016/0013-9351(82)90046-9
DO - 10.1016/0013-9351(82)90046-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 7160360
AN - SCOPUS:0020361481
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 29
SP - 459
EP - 471
JO - Environmental research
JF - Environmental research
IS - 2
ER -