Abstract
Male rats were exposed for a maximum of 4 h to carbon disulphide at atmospheric levels of 1.0—4.0mg/l and the turnover rates of adrenal dopamine was determined by injecting α-methyl-p-tyrosine and measuring the rate at which dopamine disappears. Although the level of exposure was significantly higher than the 30.0 μg/l permissible limit, or the average occupational exposure, similar or even higher peak exposure values were reported from the viscose rayon industry.
After inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by α-methyl-p-tyrosine, adrenal dopamine contents declined at a slower rate in rats exposed to carbon disulphide than in controls. The reduced rate of dopamine metabolism during exposure to carbon disulphide indicates inhibition of dopamine-β-hydroxylase in vivo. The size of this effect, which could be detected as soon as 30 min after starting the exposure to carbon disulphide, was dose dependent. The rate of dopamine turnover was still reduced 2 h after the end of a single exposure. However at that time, because of the larger dopamine pool present in the adrenals, the amount of dopamine converted per unit of time was again at pre-exposure levels.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atack C, Magnusson T (1978) A procedure for the isolation of noradrenaline (together with adrenaline), dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine from the same tissue sample using a single column of strongly acidic cation exchange resine. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol 42: 35–57
Brodie BB, Costa E, Dlabac A, Neff NH, Smookler HH (1966) Application of steady state kinetics to the estimation of synthesis rate and turnover time of tissue catecholamines. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 154: 493–498
Caroldi S, Jarvis JAE, Magos L (1984) Stimulation of dopamine-β-hydroxylase in rat adrenals by repeated exposures to carbon disulphide. Biochem Pharmacol (in press)
Lam C-W, Di Stefano V (1982) Behaviour and characterization of blood carbon disulfide in rats after inhalation. Tox Appl Pharmacol 64: 327–334
Lam C-W, Di Stefano V (1983) Blood-bound carbon disulfide: an indicator of carbon disulfide exposure and its accumulation in repeatedly exposed rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 70: 402–410
Hänninen H (1971) Psychological picture of manifest and latent carbon disulphide poisoning. Br J Ind Med 28: 374–381
Hegstrand LR, Eichelman B (1979) Analysis of catecholamines in rat brain. Chromatogram 3: 1
Hernberg S, Nurminen M, Tolonen M (1973) Excess mortality from coronary heart disease in viscose rayon workers exposed to carbon disulfide. Work Environ Health 10: 93–99
Lieben J, Menduke M, Flegel EE, Smith F (1974) Cardiovascular effects of CS2 exposure. J Occup Med 16: 449–453
McKenna MJ, Di Stefano V (1977) Carbon disulfide II. A proposed mechanism for the action of carbon disulfide on dopamine-β-hydroxylase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 202: 253–266
Magos L (1972) Toxicity of carbon disulphide. Ann Occup Hyg 15: 303–309
Magos L, Jarvis JAE (1970) The effects of carbon disulfide exposure on brain catecholamines in rats. Br J Pharmacol 39: 26–33
Magos L, Emery RC, Lock RD, Firmager BG (1970) A vertical-type constant flow inhalation chamber for rats. Lab Pract 19: 725–727
Magos L, Green A, Jarvis JAE (1974) Half life of CS2 in rats in relation to its effect on brain catecholamines. Int Arch Arbeitsmed 32: 289–296
Mancuso TF, Locke BZ (1972) Carbon disulphide as a cause of suicide. Epidemiological study of viscose rayon workers. J Occup Med 14: 595–606
NIOSH (1977) Occupational exposure to carbon disulfide. U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, USA
Tiller JR, Shilling RSF, Morris JN (1968) Occupational toxic factor in mortality from coronary heart disease. Br Med J 4: 407–411
Udenfriend S, Cooper JR, Clark CT, Baer JE (1953) Rate of turnover of epinephrine in the adrenal medulla. Science 117: 663–665
Ungar A, Phillips JH (1983) Regulation of the adrenal medulla. Physiol Rev 63: 787–843
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
S. C. was supported during these studies by grants from the British Wellcome Trust and from the European Medical Research councils.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Caroldi, S., Jarvis, J.A.E. & Magos, L. In vivo inhibition of dopamine-β-hydroxylase in rat adrenals during exposure to carbon disulphide. Arch Toxicol 55, 265–267 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341023
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00341023