Low dose sariin on brain monoaminergic activity: comparison of mouse strains

Abstract

<p>Neurological effects of symptomatic doses of chemical warfare nerve agent, sarin, have been widely studied. However, there is little information on the effects of low, asymptomatic doses. During the Gulf War, soldiers were exposed to asymptomatic doses of sarin, thus it is important to study the effects of low dose sarin. Swiss Webster mice were evaluated for their suitability as an animal model for low, non-symptomatic dosing (0.4 X LD50). Results were compared to a previous study in the C57BL/6 mouse strain. Data revealed no differences in baseline monoamine activity between strains, but there were differences in monoamine activity following low dose sarin exposure. The Swiss Webster strain had significant differences in the extraneuronal metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) in the caudate nucleus. There was also a difference in the ratio of HVA to dopamine (DA) in the caudate nucleus where there were no differences in the C57BL/6 strain. The Swiss Webster mice had no significant differences in monoamine activity in the amygdala or frontal cortex whereas the C57BL/6 mice showed differences. Results indicate that Swiss Webster and C57BL/6 mouse strains are dissimilar in their central monoaminergic response to low dose sarin exposure. Thus, for the purpose of analyzing monoamine activity in response to sarin exposure, the C57BL/6 mouse strain is the better animal model. Supported by NIH R25GM086257 and DOD GW060050.</p><p>This presentation occurred at the Wright State University Campus-Wide Celebration of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities on April 8, 2011</p>