A BIOLOGICAL MODEL OF THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES

DUE TO THE BASIC NATURE OF MILITARY OPERATIONS, IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY FOR AIR FORCE PERSONNEL TO BE EXPOSED TO TOXIC CHEMICALS IN THEIR WORK ENVIRONMENT EITHER AS A PROTRACTED LOW-LEVEL EXPOSURE OR AS A HIGH-LEVEL, ACUTE EXPOSURE. THE APPLICATION HEREIN PROPOSES TO USE THE ANTERIOR EYE (CORNEA AND CONJUNCTIVA) AND ITS SENSORY INNERVATION AS AN ASSAY OF TOXIC EFFECTS. THE ANTERIOR EYE HAS UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS: ITS EXTENSIVE USE IN TOXICOLOGY, PERMEABILITY, THE RELATIVE EASE OF OBSERVATION, AND IMPORTANCE TO THE INPUT OF VISUAL INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, THE EYE IS UNIQUE IN THAT RECEPTORS INNERVATING THE CORNEA DIFFER FROM THOSE INNERVATING CONJUNCTIVA AND HENCE COMPARISONS OF THESE POPULATIONS WILL LIKELY BE USEFUL TO ASSAY FOR DEFICITS IN PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SENSORY NEURONS. THE PERSONNEL OF TOPICAL TESTING HAVE EXPERTISE IN GROWING (AND RECORDING FROM) NEURAL TISSUE IN CULTURE, AS WELL AS THE DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT USED IN SUCH STUDIES. THIS PHASE I FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL INVESTIGATE THE USE OF AN OCULAR-NEURONAL MODEL AS AN INDICATOR OF TOXIC INSULT. PHASE II DEVELOPMENT WILL INVESTIGATE THE MECHANISM OF SPECIFIC TOXIC CHEMICALS WITH THE GOAL OF ENHANCING NATURAL DETOXIFICATION THROUGH CONVERSION OF TOXIC AGENTS INTO NON-TOXIC METABOLITES.