EFFECTS OF 5,5-DIPHENYLHYDANTOIN (PHENYTOIN) ON NEURO-BEHAVIORAL TOXICITY OF ORGANOCHLORINE INSECTICIDES AND PERMETHRIN

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 233  (2) , 285-289
Abstract
Rats were given various doses of chlordecone, DDT and lindane and tested for neurobehavioral toxicity up to 24 h postdosing. The organochlorines either had no effect or increased responsiveness to an acoustic stimulus at subconvulsant doses. Only chlordecone and p,p''-DDT produced tremor. For purposes of comparison, the neurobehavioral effects of permethrin were also studied; this pyrethroid insecticide produced tremor and hyperresponsiveness similar to that of p,p''-DDT. Pretreatment with phenytoin significantly reduced the tremor and hyperresponsiveness produced by p,p''-DDT and permethrin. Pretreatment with phenytoin increased the responsiveness of animals dosed with chlordecone or lindane, suggesting that these agents differ in their mechanism of action from p,p''-DDT and permethrin. Care should be taken in the choice of agents, particularly anticonvulsants, to be used to treat symptoms of insecticide toxicity.