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Toxicology of Motor Systems

  • Chapter
Motor Neuron Disease

Abstract

There is no shortage of toxic factors that have been proposed as aetiological agents in motor neuron disease. Of exogenous origin lead, mercury (elemental and organic) selenium and manganese are most cited (Tandan and Bradley 1985). The incidence of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neuron disease)-parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PD) of Guam has been related to nutritional deficiencies of calcium and magnesium resulting in the accumulation of manganese and aluminium (Garru-to and Yase 1986). Specific amino acids have been implicated in neurolathyrism (Rao et al. 1964), in Guamanian ALS-PD (Spencer et al. 1987) and more generally in neuronal death in various parts of the central nervous system that are not explicitly implicated in motor neuron disease (Olney 1978; Barinaga 1990; Perl et al. 1990). Epidemiological studies have linked exposure to organic solvents with an increased incidence of motor neuron disease (Hawkes et al. 1989), although it is likely that such substances also cause more generalised central nervous system dysfunctions (see Johnson 1987).

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  1. P. B. Nunn
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Kings College School of Medicine and Dentistry, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    P. N. Leigh BSc, PhD, FRCP (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Department of Neurology, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, UK

    Michael Swash MD, FRCP, FRCPath (Consultant Neurologist) (Consultant Neurologist)

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Nunn, P.B. (1995). Toxicology of Motor Systems. In: Leigh, P.N., Swash, M. (eds) Motor Neuron Disease. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1871-8_10

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