ABSTRACT
Lindane is widely used as an insecticide and scabicide in mammals. High doses in chronic exposures caused hyperexcitability and convulsions and impaired motor activity involving GABA-ergic mechanism. To investigate the role of GABA/Benzodiazepine mechanism in the neurotoxicity of low doses of lindane, rats were administered 2, 3, or 5 mg/kg orally for 90 days and behavioural, electrophysiological, and neurochemical studies were conducted. The animals exposed to lindane exhibited increased geotaxis and decreased spontaneous drug-induced locomotor activity (which further potentiated by phenobarbitone and increased after leptazol). The EEG of the treated rats showed high voltage slow-wave activity (HVSA) patterns with occasional spindles (9-10 HZ-amplitude of 100 uv). A significant increase (p < 0.01) in GABA levels in cerebellum and significant increase in benzodiazepine receptors in cerebellar membrane measured by (3H)flunitrazepam binding were observed in the animals exposed to 3 and 5 mg lindane. The study suggests that low dose chronic exposure of lindane causes neurobehavioral, neurochemical, and electrophysiological effects involving GABA-ergic mechanism(s).
