US EPA

8334835 

Book/Book Chapter 

Somatosensory Neurotoxicity: Agents and Assessment Methodology 

Herr, DW; Boyes, WK; Rice, DC 

2018 

Elsevier Inc. 

Comprehensive Toxicology: Third Edition 

6-15 

319-337 

English 

10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.02203-0 

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85043324349&doi=10.1016%2fB978-0-12-801238-3.02203-0&partnerID=40&md5=386869e3d3cc4b2ad4a87f84f31b3edb
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The somatosensory system is comprised of a variety of sensory receptors located in the skin, muscle tendons, and visceral organs that are innervated by myelinated and nonmyelinated axons of the peripheral nervous system. These peripheral sensory nerve fibers in turn communicate somatosensory information to spinal reflex pathways and to the ascending sensory tracts and integration centers of the central nervous system. The consequences of somatosensory toxicity may appear as abnormal paresthesia, tingling or burning sensations, or deficits in sensitivity to touch, vibration, pain, temperature, or position sense. The evaluation of somatosensory function may be accomplished through a variety of behavioral and neurophysiological procedures. Somatosensory toxicity may follow exposure to industrial chemicals, natural toxins, or therapeutic agents. For example, somatosensory neurotoxicity may be an important dose-limiting side effect for several chemotherapeutic drugs. This article provides an overview of the anatomy and physiology of the somatosensory system, behavioral and neurophysiological assessment techniques, and selected chemicals or chemical classes that can produce somatosensory toxicity. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved. 

Acrylamide; Behavioral assessment; Clinical assessment; Methyl n-butyl ketone; Methylmercury; N-Hexane; Neurophysiological assessment; Pain; Somatosensory system; Temperature; Triorthocresyl phosphate; Vibration