VISUAL-SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION FOLLOWING ACUTE TRIMETHYLTIN EXPOSURE IN RATS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 4  (2) , 191-195
Abstract
Trimethyltin (TMT) produces damage in the limbic system and several other brain areas. Damage to sensory systems was not reported. The integrity of the visual system following acute exposure to TMT was studied. Rats were chronically implanted with electrodes for recording the evoked response from the visual cortex or optic tract following photic stimulation. Following recovery, the animals were exposed to 0 (saline), 4, 5, 6 or 7 mg/kg TMT. Evoked potentials were averaged and peak-to-peak amplitudes and latencies were determined. Exposure to TMT produced alterations in the visual evoked response. The pattern of changes suggested 2 effects, an alteration in retinal processing and an alteration in arousal. The manifestation of these changes was an increase in early peak latencies recorded from the visual cortex and the optic tract, a decreased amplitude recorded from the visual cortex and optic tract early peaks (all suggestive of retinal changes) and a decreased P3N3 amplitude and N3 latency recorded from the visual cortex (suggestive of increased arousal). TMT produced alterations in sensory systems as well as in the limbic system.