The relation of the neurotoxicity of organic tin and lead compounds to neurotubule disaggregation.

The effect of organic lead and tin compounds upon the integrity of cerebral neurotubules has been studies in vitro and in vivo, using 3H-colchicine binding as an index of tubulin aggregation. Triethyl tin, trimethyl lead and triethyl lead chlorides at concentrations above 5 X 10(-5)M, all prevented the polymerization of tubulin. Inorganic lead had a similar effect. Trimethyl tin had a much lesser capacity to prevent such polymerization. Rats received a single dose of each organometal, by subcutaneous injection and the capacity of hippocampal soluble protein to bind 3H colchicine was assessed. At organometal doses sufficient to cause morphological damage and behavioral change, no significant differences of colchicine binding capacity were apparent.