Chronic exposure to toluene changes the sleep-wake pattern and brain monoamine content in rats.

Toluene, found in glues and cleaners, is among the inhalants most commonly abused by workers and young drug addicts. In this study, we examined the changes in sleep patterns and monoamine content induced by chronic toluene exposure. Rats were chronically exposed to toluene vapors beginning at 30 days of age for a duration of 30 days. Experiment I was performed in a control group (n=10) and a chronic toluene exposure group (n=10). Rats were implanted with bipolar stainless steel electrodes for electroencephalographic recording (EEG). In experiment II, conducted in two other groups (control and exposed to toluene, n=10 each), animals were sacrificed by decapitation prior to chromatographic analysis. We found that chronic toluene administration affected the organization of sleep patterns and monoamine content. Dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) increased in the midbrain and striatum. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) increased only in the striatum. Midbrain levels of serotonin (5-HT) increased in the pons and decreased in the hypothalamus and striatum. 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) increased in the pons, midbrain and striatum and decreased in the hypothalamus. Chronic toluene exposure induced changes in the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems and increased SWS and PS deficits. We conclude that toluene exposure disrupts the sleep-wake cycle by affecting the monoaminergic response in cerebral areas related to sleep.