Sixth mycelial fraction acetone (6-MFA), an interferon inducer modulates acrylamide neurotoxicity

A single i.p. administration of an immunomodulatory agent 6-MFA (a biological response modifier and antiviral agent of fungal origin, 10 mg/100g b.wt.), on 5th day of repeated acrylamide (ACR, 50 mg/kg b.wt.) treatment significantly protected rats against its specific neurotoxic effects. Corpus striatal 3H-spiperone binding elevated (24%) while glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity decreased (33%) in ACR group but values were markedly restored in 6-MFA alone and co-exposed group. Development of hind limb paralysis was also protected by 6-MFA. Results warrant the possible involvement of immune mechanisms and certain other factors such as lymphokines, hormones and microglia at the target site, which in turn facilitate the repair mechanism suggesting a therapeutic role of 6-MFA in clinical cases of toxic neuropathies in future.