Effect of acrylamide and related compounds on glycolytic enzymes in rat sciatic nerve in vivo.

The effect of acrylamide and six analogues on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and enolase in sciatic nerve was examined in rats after their prolonged administration in drinking water. After 15 days' treatment with acrylamide and N-isopropylacrylamide, slight signs of peripheral neuropathy were produced with no changes in the activity of either enzyme. N,N-dimethylacrylamide, a non-neurotoxic analogue, produced only body weight loss at this stage. After 30 days' treatment, acrylamide and N-isopropylacrylamide produced moderate signs of neuropathy, but no changes in enzyme activity. N,N-dimethylacrylamide produced a reduction in GAPDH activity as well as body weight loss. After 45 days' treatment, acrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide, N-hydroxymethylacrylamide and N-methylacrylamide produced severe signs of neuropathy as well as body weight loss. All these analogues also produced a reduction in the two enzyme activities, except for enolase after N-isopropylacrylamide. N,N-dimethylacrylamide produced inhibition of GAPDH as well as body weight loss without neuropathy. N-tert-butylacrylamide and N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide induced neither neuropathy nor inhibition of either enzyme.