Brain aminopeptidase activity after subacute xylene exposure.

Xylene is a neurotoxic aromatic hydrocarbon widely used in industry. In this article, the effect of subacute xylene exposure on neutral and basic aminopeptidase activities in several regions of the rat brain is described. Neutral aminopeptidase activity only decreased significantly in the thalamus. There were no changes in basic aminopeptidase activity after the solvent administration. Thus, these brain aminopeptidase activities are largely unaffected by subacute exposure to xylene, which is not the case with benzene or carbon disulfide. This could be in line with its recognized lesser toxicity at the central nervous system level.