Neurological and biochemical toxic profile of BDE‐85

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the consequences of exposure to an environmental contaminant BDE‐85. This is one of the toxic congeners of the commercial mixture of penta‐brominated diphenyl ethers, which serve as flame retardants. The scope of this study includes: In‐vitro studies comprising (i) signal conduction experiments wherein the rat sciatic nerve is excised, exposed to 5μg/mL BDE‐85, and placed in a conduction chamber to evaluate conduction velocity and (ii) glucose absorption experiments wherein a duodenal segment is excised, exposed to 5μg/mL BDE‐85, and placed in a muscle warmer with glucose solution to evaluate transepithelial glucose transport; and (iii) in‐vivo studies to determine oxidative damage following intraperitoneal administration of 0.25mg/kg of body weight of BDE‐85 in four tissues (kidney, liver, brain, intestine) using the indicators namely, lipid‐peroxidation, activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. In vitro results of this experiment following exposure show decreased conduction velocity, decreased glucose absorption. In vivo experimental results show increased levels of lipid perodixation with decreased activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, indicating a significant degree of toxicity of this chemical compound. Funding for this r esearch was provided by Gannon University.