Behavioral Toxicology of Volatile Organic Solvents. IV. Comparisons of the Rate-Decreasing Effects of Acetone,Ethyl Acetate,Methyl Ethyl Ketone,Toluene,and Carbon Disulfide on Schedule-Controlled Behavior of Mice

Abstract

The effects of acetone (ACE), ethyl acetate (EAC), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene (TOL), and carbon disulfide (CS₂) were compared on schedule-controlled responding of mice. Responding (the interruption of a photocell beam located behind a nose-poke hole) was maintained under a fixed interval (FI) 60-second schedule of milk presentation in a sealed inhalation chamber. Cumulative concentration-effect functions were obtained by increasing the concentration of each solvent within the chamber, at 30-minute intervals until responding was abolished. Responding was assessed again 30 minutes after the termination of exposures to levels that abolished responding, to assess the extent of recovery. TOL, CS₂, and ACE slightly increased rates of responding at lower concentrations. Each solvent decreased responding in a concentration-related manner at higher concentrations, with responding being decreased 50% by 10,694 ppm ACE, 594 ppm EAC, 2891 ppm MEK, 1784 ppm TOL, and 2242 ppm CS₂. Responding recovered 30 minutes after exposures completely for ACE, EAC, and MEK, approximately 75% for TOL, but not at all for CS₂. These data suggest that the acute behavioral toxicity of EAC, relative to that found for the other solvents, may be greater than that reflected in current threshold limit values (TLV).

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