Functional assays of neurotoxicity testing of α-terpineol in Wistar rats

Neurotoxicology is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on examining the effects of chemical exposures and environmental factors on the nervous system. This study in Wistar rats aimed to investigate the impacts of α- terpineol, a natural compound, on neurotoxicity. Forty-eight healthy Wistar rats, including 24 males and 24 females, were obtained, acclimated for 7 days, and housed in controlled environmental conditions with a balanced diet and <i>ad libitum</i> access to water. The study involved daily administration of 0, 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg of α–terpineol in corn oil for 28 days, with dose adjustments based on weekly body weight measurements. The research found that exposure to α- terpineol led to several adverse effects, such as reduced body weight, impaired motor coordination, and significant declines in sperm parameters and testosterone levels. Additionally, the study observed decreases in spleen and adrenal weights, as well as histopathological changes in the lungs and spleen, suggesting potential respiratory and immune system toxicity. While no significant changes were observed in motor activity, learning, memory, or oxidative stress parameters, the histopathological evaluation revealed testicular alterations at higher doses, indicating that α- terpineol may have adverse effects on male reproductive function. The findings suggest the need for further investigation to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of α-terpineol’s toxicity and establish safer exposure levels. Interestingly, the compound also exhibited neuroprotective properties, potentially through its antioxidant effects and ability to mitigate oxidative stress in the brain, which may have implications for addressing neurodegenerative disorders.

神经毒理学（Neurotoxicology）是一门交叉学科，聚焦于探究化学暴露与环境因素对神经系统的影响。本研究以Wistar大鼠（Wistar rats）为实验对象，旨在探究天然化合物α-松油醇（α-terpineol）对神经毒性的影响。实验选取48只健康Wistar大鼠，雌雄各24只，适应性饲养7日后，将其置于环境可控的饲养环境中，给予均衡膳食，并使其自由饮水（ad libitum）。实验为期28日，每日以玉米油为溶剂，给大鼠灌胃0、75、150或300 mg/kg剂量的α-松油醇，给药剂量根据每周体重测量结果进行调整。研究结果显示，α-松油醇暴露可引发多种不良反应，包括体重降低、运动协调能力受损，以及精子参数与睾酮水平的显著下降。此外，实验观察到大鼠脾脏与肾上腺重量降低，同时肺脏与脾脏出现组织病理学改变，提示α-松油醇可能具有呼吸系统与免疫系统毒性。尽管在运动活性、学习记忆能力以及氧化应激指标中未观察到显著变化，但组织病理学评估显示，高剂量组大鼠出现睾丸组织改变，提示α-松油醇可能对雄性生殖功能产生不良影响。本研究结果表明，仍需开展进一步研究以阐明α-松油醇毒性的潜在作用机制，并确定安全的暴露阈值。值得注意的是，该化合物同时表现出神经保护特性，其潜在机制可能与其抗氧化作用以及缓解脑组织氧化应激的能力有关，这一发现或可为神经退行性疾病的防治提供新思路。