Ganglioside GM1 treatment prevents the effects of subacute exposure to toluene on N-[3H]propylnorapomorphine binding characteristics in rat striatal membranes.

The effects of ganglioside GM1 treatment (10 mg/kg, i.p., 3 days, once daily) were analyzed on N-[3H]propylnorapomorphine ([3H]NPA) binding characteristics in striatal membrane preparations from air or toluene (80 ppm, 3 days, 6 h/day) exposed adult male rats. It was found that toluene exposure induced increased Kd and Bmax values for [3H]NPA binding. These changes could be blocked by GM1 treatment, which by itself had no significant effects on the binding characteristics of [3H]NPA. The addition of toluene (9.3 mumol/ml) in vitro had similar effects on [3H]NPA binding characteristics as toluene exposure in vivo. These results indicate that the effects of toluene exposure on dopamine receptors are due to an alteration of membrane fluidity which is prevented by GM1 treatment.