Combinatorial effects of brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls and methylmercury on uptake of glutamate in rat brain synaptosomes

Methyl mercury (MeHg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and some brominated flame retardants (BFR) are all neurotoxic compounds, known to exert their effects through their influence on neurotransmitter transport. Even though they normally appear in mixture, this is seldom taken into account in risk assessment. The aim of this study was to elucidate possible effects of combinations of these three classes of substances on glutamate uptake in rat brain synaptosomes. To characterize the type of interaction in this system, we used two types of experimental designs 1) the method of isoboles, based on the theories of Löewe and Muischnek, and 2) the method of independent action, based on theories by Bliss