Group Members:

• Jordi Llorens, Professor in Physiology, Group leader
• Pere Boadas-Vaello, Post-doctoral researcher
• Carla Soler-Martín, Assistant Professor
• Sandra Saldaña, Assistant Professor

Research Lines:

Neurotoxicology: effects of nitriles on the nervous and sensory systems.

Role of nitrile metabolism on nitrile neurotoxicity.

Role of food nitriles of natural origin on neurological diseases: konzo, tropical ataxic neuropathy and lathyrism.

Histological and behavioral assessment of neurotoxic effects in animal models, with particular focus on motor, auditory and vestibular systems.

International Collaborations:

    * Christian Chabbert, INSERM, Montpellier, França

     *  Richard Apps, University of Bristol, UK

Financial Support:

New models of nitrile-induced neurofilamentous axonopathy in rats and mice. BFU2006-00343/BFI, Plan nacional de I+D+I.

• Boadas-Vaello, P., Jover E., Díez-Padrisa N., Bayona J.M., Llorens J. (2007) “Differential role of CYP2E1-mediated metabolism in the lethal and vestibulotoxic effects of cis-crotononitrile in the mouse. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 225: 310-317
• Brugeaud, A.; Travo, C.; Dememes, D.; Lenoir, M.; Llorens, J.; Puel, J.L.; Chabbert, C (2007) “Control of hair cell excitability by vestibular primary sensory neurons” Journal of Neuroscience 27: 3503-3511
• Soler-Martín C., Díez-Padrisa N., Boadas-Vaello P., Llorens J. (2007) “Behavioral disturbances and hair cell loss in the inner ear following nitrile exposure in mice, guinea pigs and frogs”. Toxicological sciences 96, 123-132
• Seoane, A.; Apps, R.; Balbuena, E.; Herrero, L.; Llorens, J. (2005) “Differential effects of trans-crotononitrile and 3-acetylpyridine on inferior olive integrity and behavioural performance in the rat. European Journal of Neuroscience 22: 880-894
• Boadas-Vaello, P.; Riera, J.; Llorens, J. (2005) “Behavioral and pathological effects in the rat define two groups of neurotoxic nitriles. Toxicological Sciences 88: 456-466
• Llorens,J. "On the similarity of cocaine and 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile". (2005) Med Hypotheses.  65, :193.
• Llorens, J. Does copper ameliorate the vestibular toxicity of iminodipropionitrile (IDPN)?
  (2005) Neurotoxicology. 26, 475-6.
• Seoane A., J. Llorens. (2005) "Extruding auditory hair cells in rats exposed to subchronic 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile".  Environ.Toxicol.Pharmacol. 19: 571-574.
• Llorens J. "Enfermedades neurológicas asociadas al consumo de variedades de mandioca con alto contenido en gluconitrilos".  Endocrinol. Nutr. 51: 418-425. (2004)
• Llorens J. "The physiology of taste and smell: how and why we sense flavors" Water Sci. Technol. 49: 1-10 (2004)
• Seoane A., D. Demêmes, J. Llorens. "Distal effects in a model of proximal axonopathy: 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile causes specific loss of neurofilaments in rat vestibular afferent endings". Acta Neuropathol. 106: 458-470. (2003)
• Balbuena E. J. Llorens. "Comparison of cis-and trans-crotononitrile effects in the rat reveals specificity in the neurotoxic properties of nitrile isomers". Toxicol Appl.Pharmacol. 187:89-100. (2003)
• Seoane A., D. Demêmes, J. Llorens. "Relationship between insult intensity and mode of hair cell loss in the vestibular system of rats exposed to 3,3’-iminodipropionitrile".  J Comp. Neurol.  439, 385-399 (2001) (PDF)
• Balbuena E. J. Llorens. "Behavioral disturbances and sensory pathology following allylnitrile exposure in rats".  Brain Res.  904: 298-306. (2001)
• Seoane A., D. Demêmes, J. Llorens. "Pathology of the rat vestibular sensory epithelia during subchronic 3,3’-iminodipropionitrile exposure: hair cells may not be the primary target of toxicity".  Acta Neuropathol.  102, 339-348. (2001)