Styrene metabolism and striatal dopamine depletion in rabbits.

The striatal concentration of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and homovanillic acid (HVA) was assessed in adult male rabbits exposed to styrene vapours or dosed with mandelic acid (MA), phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) and phenylglycine (PG). Styrene exposure produced a marked and dose-dependent decrease in striatal DA, concomitant with a consistent increase in HVA. The same effects were caused by i.p. administration of PGA and PG, but not of MA. The increased catabolism of DA was concomitant with a normal turnover time after inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase by the administration of methyl-p-tyrosine. The amination of PGA to PG with a subsequent competition of the latter with DA for the vesicular storage capacity is suggested as the possible mechanism for styrene-induced brain dysfunction.