Local neurotoxicity of methylmethacrylate monomer.

A technique was devised which allowed a controlled exposure to methylmethacrylate liquid on rat tail skin. The procedure was repeated 3 h daily for 8 weeks. This caused keratolysis without ulcerations in the exposed skin and abnormal muscle responses to stimulation of the rat tail motor nerves by a skin electrode through the treated area after 4 weeks of exposure. The motor conduction time did not differ from controls. The results point to a local neurotoxic reaction by the absorbed methylmethacrylate. This technique may prove valuable in experiments on the determination of dermal and local toxicity of new chemicals.