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Neurotoxicity

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Aniline is a well known and strong methemoglobin inducer. Neurofunctional and neuropathological effects were observed by Okazaki et al. (2001a and 2001b) after single oral treatment of 4-week old rats with high (750 to 1000 mg/kg bw) doses of aniline, which induced cyanosis and, consequently, mortality. Rats of the same age treated with an aniline dose not inducing cyanosis (500 mg/kg bw) did not show any neurofunctional and/or neuropathological effects. Therefore it can be assumed that the neurological effects seen are a consequence of strong oxygen depletion caused by aniline induced methemoglobin formation in developing young rats. This assumption is supported by the observation that all neurofunctional and neuropathological effects appeared only transiently and could be recovered, respectively. Rats treated in a later stage of development (7-10 week old rats) did not show any neurofunctional and/or neuropathological effects, although treated with a clearly cyanosis inducing aniline dose (800 mg/kg bw). Obviously, more mature rats are no longer susceptible to cyanosis induced transiently appearing neurotoxicity. 

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