Résumé
This work was devoted to study the physicochemical properties as well as the neuropharmacological and toxicological effects of the local glue "Kolla" which is commonly and widely abused by street children in Egypt. Chemical analysis showed that the main volatile solvent ingredient of "Kolla" is toluene and, thus, it was used as a reference toxic solvent in this study. Three different concentrations of each inhalant, glue and toluene, were investigated. Single inhalation [30 min] of both "Kolla" [1000, 4000 ppm] and toluene [5610, 22576 ppm] potentiated the sleeping time of pentobarbital. In their higher concentrations, "Kolla" [8000 ppm] and toluene [45153 ppm] antagonized the hypnotic action of pentobarbital. Single inhalation [30 min] of the tested substances produced motor incoordination and decreased locomotor activity of rats. The higher concentration of toluene [45153 ppm] increased this activity. Repeated daily inhalation [30 min/day for 10 days] of "Kolla" and toluene in the 3 tested concentrations increased locomotor activity of rats. Levels of Malondialdehyde [MDA.] in cortex and cerebellum increased after repeated inhalation of glue and toluene. Also, glutamate level in hippocampus increased after repeated inhalation of the two toxic inhalants. Extraction of liver, kidney and heart after 10 days of daily repeated inhalation showed some histopathological changes