The effect of some Frescon analogs on the aquatic snail,Lymnaea stagnalis: II. Correlation of neurotoxicity to Molluscicidal effectiveness

Although the molluscicide Frescon is a strong neurotoxin to the Lymnaea stagnalis central nervous system in vitro, it is probable that the exposure of the whole animal to this molluscicide fails to result in central nervous system abnormalities: Frescon does not appear to reach the brain in sufficient quantity to disrupt its normal activity. However, only those Frescon analogs found to be neurotoxic were molluscicidal, suggesting some related mode, if not site, of action. Frescon and its analogs may act by affecting excitable tissues other than the nervous system (e.g., the snail musculature) by altering certain functional and/or structural membrane properties.     

The effect of some Frescon analogs on the aquatic snail,Lymnaea stagnalis: I. Effect on the isolated central nervous system

Frescon (N-triphenylmethyl morpholine) is a strong neurotoxic agent when applied to the in vitro brain of Lymnaea stagnalis. Ten Frescon analogs were tested in order to determine their degree of neurotoxicity. Nine of the ten analogs were found to be neurotoxic to a greater or lesser degree. Triphenylmethanol (a hydrolysis product of Frescon), however, did not exhibit neurotoxicity. These results form part of an investigation to determine the plausibility of the snail central nervous system being a target for Frescon action.     

The effect of some Frescon analogs on the aquatic snail,Lymnaea stagnalis: III. Relation of some physical and chemical properties to neurotoxicity and molluscicidal effectiveness

The hydrolysis rates, particle sizes in suspension, and the relative lipophilicity of Frescon and its analogs were determined and compared with their neurotoxic and molluscicidal effectiveness. The hydrolysis rates of these compounds were closely correlated to their neurotoxicity, and, with one exception, to their molluscicidal effectiveness as well. The aberrant behavior of the one analog could not be attributed to a retarded penetration rate or an excessively large particle size in suspension. There appears to be some, as yet, unidentified factor which determines the molluscicidal activity of this analog. However, it is likely that both neurotoxicity and molluscicidal action are the result of a nucleophilic displacement reaction, although at different targets. Also, differences in the relative molluscicidal effectiveness of the Frescon analogs at different concentrations were possibly due to variations in particle size, which appears to be a function of the type and amount of emulsifier used.