Effect of nitrogen dioxide on sulfhydryl groups in the central nervous system of guinea pigs.

Two groups of male guinea pigs were exposed to 5 and 10 p.p.m. nitrogen dioxide, 2 hr daily for 35 consecutive days, respectively. The third group, exposed to clean room air, was used as control. Total, free and protein bound sulfhydryl groups were estimated in the cerebral hemisphere cerebellum, midbrain and spinal cord. Significant decrement in total and protein bound sulfhydryl groups and increment in free sulfhydryl groups have been observed. Interestingly, dose-related statistically significant alterations in various CNS regions have been detected.