DDT-induced tremor in rats: effects of pharmacological agents

Rats given a tremorigenic dose of DDT (75 mg/kg, PO) were treated with pharmacological agents either 30 min prior to DDT or 1-2 h prior to testing at the time of peak effect (12 h postdosing). The administration of mephenesin (a centrally acting muscle relaxant) or Dilantin (an anticonvulsant) prior to DDT significantly attenuated tremor. Pretreatment with pizotifen (a serotonergic receptor antagonist) had no significant effect on tremor. Administration of the same agents 1-2 h prior to measurement had minimal effects. Trihexyphenidyl (a muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist) exacerbated the tremor produced by DDT. These data suggest that cholinergic neurotransmitter systems may be involved in DDT-induced tremor. That DDT-induced tremor was significantly attenuated by mephenesin and Dilantin is in accord with the conclusion that DDT-induced tremor is a manifestation of repetitive discharge due to interference with ionic conductance.