THE EFFECTS OF LEAD AND TIN ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS ON THE METABOLISM OF RAT BRAIN CORTEX SLICES

Abstract

The effects of tetraethyl lead, tetraethyl tin, triethyl lead, and triethyl tin on the metabolism of rat brain cortex slices have been studied. Tetraethyl lead and tetraethyl tin inhibit the active transport of amino acids into rat brain cortex slices at concentrations and under conditions that show no effect on the glucose metabolism of the slices. Tetraethyl lead and tetraethyl tin inhibit the oxidation of L-glutamate by rat brain slices. This effect can be accounted for on the basis of the inhibitory action of these two substances on the transport of the amino acid into the brain tissue.Tetraethyl lead and tetraethyl tin abolish, at low concentrations, potassium-stimulated brain slice respiration in presence of glucose, having little or no effect on unstimulated brain slice respiration. However, the respiration of rat brain cortex slices previously treated with phospholipase A is highly sensitive to tetraethyl lead.The inhibitory effects of the two tetraethyl compounds show differences from those of their triethyl derivatives indicating that the effects of the former substances are not due to admixture with, or conversion to, the latter substances.The brain slices of rats poisoned with either tetraethyl lead or tetraethyl tin are unable to effect the active transport of amino acids. The appearance of this biochemical abnormality coincides with the manifestation of neuropathological symptoms.The mode of action of tetraethyl lead and of tetraethyl tin on brain metabolism in vitro is discussed. It is suggested that they may act on phospholipid groups concerned with amino acid and cation transport at the cell membrane.