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Nervous System Degeneration Produced by the Industrial Solvent Methyl n-Butyl Ketone

Nervous System Degeneration Produced by the Industrial Solvent Methyl n-Butyl Ketone Abstract Because of a number of cases of peripheral neuropathy that occurred in factory workers employed in a fabricprinting plant in 1973, chronic inhalation experiments have been conducted using the printing-ink solvents methyl n-butyl ketone (MBK) and methyl iso-butyl ketone (MIBK). After four months of intermittent respiratory exposure to 1,300 parts per million (ppm) MBK, all six rats tested developed severe symmetric weakness in the hindlimbs. Morphological studies showed massive focal axonal enlargements containing abnormally large numbers of neurofilaments and dying-back axonal degeneration in peripheral and central nerve fibers. Six rats similarly exposed for five months to 1,500 ppm of MIBK showed minimal distal axonal change, but remained neurologically intact. The principal conclusion of this study is that MBK is a neurotoxin in rats. References 1. Allen N, Mendell JR, Billamier D, et al: An outbreak of a previously undescribed toxic polyneuropathy due to an industrial solvent . Trans Am Neurol Assoc , to be published. 2. Schrenk HH, Yant WP, Patty FA: Public Health Report , No. 51. Public Health Service, 1936, p 624. 3. Specht H, Miller JW, Valaer PJ, et al: National Institutes of Health Bulletin , No. 176. National Institutes of Health, 1940. 4. Federal Register 39:125, pt 11, section 1910. 93, subpart, 6, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, June 27, 1974. 5. McDonough JR: Possible neuropathy from methyl n-butyl ketone . N Engl J Med 290:695, 1974. 6. Spencer PS, Schaumburg HH: Experimental methyl n-butyl ketone neuropathy. Read before the 50th annual meeting of the American Association of Neuropathologists, Boston, 1974. 7. Spencer PS, Thomas PK: The examination of isolated nerve fibers by light and electron microscopy with observations on demyelination proximal to amputation neuromas . Acta Neuropathol 16:177-186, 1970.Crossref 8. Spencer PS, Thomas PK: Ultrastructural studies of the dying-back process: II . The sequestration and removal by Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes of organelles from normal and diseased axons . J Neurocytol, to be published. 9. Cavanagh JB: The significance of the "dying-back" process in experimental and human neurological diseases . Int Rev Exp Pathol 3:219-267, 1964. 10. Prineas J: The pathogenesis of dying-back polyneuropathies: 1. An ultrastructural study of experimental acrylamide intoxication in the cat . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 28:571-597, 1969.Crossref 11. Prineas J: The pathogenesis of dying-back polyneuropathies: II. An ultrastructural study of experimental tri-ortho cresyl phosphate intoxication in the cat . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 28:598-621, 1969.Crossref 12. Cavanagh JB: Toxic substances and the nervous system . Br Med Bull 25:268-273, 1969. 13. Cavanagh JB: Peripheral neuropathy caused by chemical agents . CRC Crit Rev Toxicol 2:365-417, 1973.Crossref 14. Schaumburg HH, Wiśniewski H, Spencer PS: Ultrastructural studies of the dying-back process: 1. Peripheral nerve terminal and axon degeneration in systemic acrylamide intoxication . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 33:260-284, 1974.Crossref 15. Spencer PS, Schaumburg HH: A review of acrylamide neurotoxicity: 2. Experimental animal neurotoxicity and pathologic mechanisms . Can J Neurol Sci 1:152-169, 1974. 16. Asbury AK, Nielsen SL, Telfer R: Gluesniffing neuropathy . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 33:191, 1974. 17. Herskowitz A, Ishii N, Schaumburg H: Nhexane neuropathy: A syndrome occurring as a result of industrial exposure . N Engl J Med 265:82-85, 1971.Crossref 18. Ishii N, Herskowitz A, Schaumburg HH: Nhexane polyneuropathy: A clinical and experimental study . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 31:198, 1972. 19. Shirabe T, Tsuda T, Terao A, et al: Toxic polyneuropathy due to glue-sniffing: Report of two cases with light and electron microscopic study of the peripheral nerves and muscles . J Neurol Sci 21:101-113, 1974.Crossref 20. Asbury AK, Gale MK, Cox SC, et al: Giant axonal neuropathy: A unique case with segmental neurofilamentous masses . Acta Neuropathol 20:237-247, 1972.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Neurology American Medical Association

Nervous System Degeneration Produced by the Industrial Solvent Methyl n-Butyl Ketone

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References (21)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1975 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-9942
eISSN
1538-3687
DOI
10.1001/archneur.1975.00490460035002
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Because of a number of cases of peripheral neuropathy that occurred in factory workers employed in a fabricprinting plant in 1973, chronic inhalation experiments have been conducted using the printing-ink solvents methyl n-butyl ketone (MBK) and methyl iso-butyl ketone (MIBK). After four months of intermittent respiratory exposure to 1,300 parts per million (ppm) MBK, all six rats tested developed severe symmetric weakness in the hindlimbs. Morphological studies showed massive focal axonal enlargements containing abnormally large numbers of neurofilaments and dying-back axonal degeneration in peripheral and central nerve fibers. Six rats similarly exposed for five months to 1,500 ppm of MIBK showed minimal distal axonal change, but remained neurologically intact. The principal conclusion of this study is that MBK is a neurotoxin in rats. References 1. Allen N, Mendell JR, Billamier D, et al: An outbreak of a previously undescribed toxic polyneuropathy due to an industrial solvent . Trans Am Neurol Assoc , to be published. 2. Schrenk HH, Yant WP, Patty FA: Public Health Report , No. 51. Public Health Service, 1936, p 624. 3. Specht H, Miller JW, Valaer PJ, et al: National Institutes of Health Bulletin , No. 176. National Institutes of Health, 1940. 4. Federal Register 39:125, pt 11, section 1910. 93, subpart, 6, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, June 27, 1974. 5. McDonough JR: Possible neuropathy from methyl n-butyl ketone . N Engl J Med 290:695, 1974. 6. Spencer PS, Schaumburg HH: Experimental methyl n-butyl ketone neuropathy. Read before the 50th annual meeting of the American Association of Neuropathologists, Boston, 1974. 7. Spencer PS, Thomas PK: The examination of isolated nerve fibers by light and electron microscopy with observations on demyelination proximal to amputation neuromas . Acta Neuropathol 16:177-186, 1970.Crossref 8. Spencer PS, Thomas PK: Ultrastructural studies of the dying-back process: II . The sequestration and removal by Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes of organelles from normal and diseased axons . J Neurocytol, to be published. 9. Cavanagh JB: The significance of the "dying-back" process in experimental and human neurological diseases . Int Rev Exp Pathol 3:219-267, 1964. 10. Prineas J: The pathogenesis of dying-back polyneuropathies: 1. An ultrastructural study of experimental acrylamide intoxication in the cat . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 28:571-597, 1969.Crossref 11. Prineas J: The pathogenesis of dying-back polyneuropathies: II. An ultrastructural study of experimental tri-ortho cresyl phosphate intoxication in the cat . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 28:598-621, 1969.Crossref 12. Cavanagh JB: Toxic substances and the nervous system . Br Med Bull 25:268-273, 1969. 13. Cavanagh JB: Peripheral neuropathy caused by chemical agents . CRC Crit Rev Toxicol 2:365-417, 1973.Crossref 14. Schaumburg HH, Wiśniewski H, Spencer PS: Ultrastructural studies of the dying-back process: 1. Peripheral nerve terminal and axon degeneration in systemic acrylamide intoxication . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 33:260-284, 1974.Crossref 15. Spencer PS, Schaumburg HH: A review of acrylamide neurotoxicity: 2. Experimental animal neurotoxicity and pathologic mechanisms . Can J Neurol Sci 1:152-169, 1974. 16. Asbury AK, Nielsen SL, Telfer R: Gluesniffing neuropathy . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 33:191, 1974. 17. Herskowitz A, Ishii N, Schaumburg H: Nhexane neuropathy: A syndrome occurring as a result of industrial exposure . N Engl J Med 265:82-85, 1971.Crossref 18. Ishii N, Herskowitz A, Schaumburg HH: Nhexane polyneuropathy: A clinical and experimental study . J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 31:198, 1972. 19. Shirabe T, Tsuda T, Terao A, et al: Toxic polyneuropathy due to glue-sniffing: Report of two cases with light and electron microscopic study of the peripheral nerves and muscles . J Neurol Sci 21:101-113, 1974.Crossref 20. Asbury AK, Gale MK, Cox SC, et al: Giant axonal neuropathy: A unique case with segmental neurofilamentous masses . Acta Neuropathol 20:237-247, 1972.Crossref

Journal

Archives of NeurologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Apr 1, 1975

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