Allylnitrile: a compound which induces long-term dyskinesia in mice following a single administration.

A single oral dose of allylnitrile (ALN) in mice pretreated with CCl4 induced behavioral abnormalities such as circling, hyperactivity, and head twitching, which lasted for a 4-month observation period. Histopathologically hemorrhage, demyelinated fibers and necrotic neurons were observed in the midbrain and pons 40 to 50 days after the administration of ALN. The head twitching was either reduced by treatment with serotonin and dopamine antagonists or enhanced by a serotonin releaser, suggesting that both serotonin and dopamine systems are involved in the behavioral abnormalities by ALN. These disorders by ALN may be used as an animal model of the dyskinetic syndrome.