Development of an animal model of solvent abuse for use in evaluation of extreme trichloroethylene inhalation.

Self-intoxication by inhalation of vapors of trichloroethylene (TCE) and other solvents is widespread. In order to develop exposure protocols which typify episodes of TCE "sniffing", male Wistar-Munich rats were exposed to TCE vapor levels ranging from 9000 to 16 000 ppm. TCE in concentrations of 14 000 ppm and greater quickly produced loss of righting reflex. Recovery from the narcosis was very rapid. Central nervous system (CNS) depression was found to be cumulative in rats subjected for 5 h to alternating periods of 5 min of 15 000 ppm TCE and 15 min of fresh air. Ethanol markedly potentiated depression in these subjects. No evidence of liver or kidney damage was seen in rats subjected to the repetitive 5-h TCE inhalation regimen, nor in rats fasted for 16 h before the TCE-exposure session. Oral administration of 5 ml/kg body wt of ethanol 1 h, 16 h, or once daily for 3 days before the TCE-exposure regimen had little if any potentiating effect on hepatorenal toxicity potential. Animals that received ethanol and were fasted before TCE exposure exhibited slight elevations in SGOT and SGPT levels.