Neurochemistry and toxicology: overview.

We have witnessed a tremendous increase in our knowledge of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms which underly the activities of the nervous system. Such knowledge is essential in order to determine the basic mechanisms involved in neurotoxic events. An overview of how neurotoxins could conceivably interfere with some basic neurochemical processes is presented, along with a specific example of how an understanding of such processes can contribute to the detection of neurotoxicity and to the development of predictive testing techniques.