Short-term toxicity study of allyl isothiocyanate in rats

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) was given in doses of 0, 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg (5 days/week) by oral intubation to male rats for up to 6 weeks. The highest dosage level caused a decrease in body weight, thymus weight, blood glucose and serum globulin levels. Haematological examination revealed an increased percentage of neutrophils and a decreased percentage of lymphocytes after treatment for 2 weeks. Increased liver and adrenal weights were found in all test groups. Renal dysfunction was indicated by increased urinary aspartate amino-transferase activity, reduced urine volume and changes in the specific gravity of the urine. Histopathological changes were observed in the kidneys of animals at dosages of 20 and 40 mg/kg and in the livers of animals at the highest dosage level.

[The effect of ethylenethiurea on hematopoesis in rats]

The influence of single and repeated oral administration of ethylenethiourea (ETU) on hematologic parameters of the peripheral blood and the bone marrow was studied in male and female rats. Effects of single treatment on the erythrocytic system were initially indicated by increase in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit of the peripheral blood. The initial polyglobulia was followed by a decrease in the blood hemoglobin concentration and the number of erythroblasts of the bone marrow. Continuous administration of ETU resulted in hyporegenerative anemia. The white blood picture showed leukopenia after single and continuous administration of the substance. This effect resulted from a decline in lymphocyte numbers which occurred both in the peripheral blood and in the bone marrow. The hematologic changes were induced with 50 mg ETU/kg body weight and more using single treatment and 600 ppm (= 70 mg ETU/kg body weight) and more under dietary administration.

[The effect of azoxybenzene on microsomal liver enzymes in the rat]

Oral administrations of azoxybenzene (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg b.w.) over a period up to 7 days caused a time and dose dependent decrease in the amount of cytochrome P-450 as well as in the ability of aminopyrine-N-demethylation and aniline hydroxylation in the hepatic microsomes of male and female rats. In both sexes there were retardations in the body weight gain and increases in the relative weight of the liver. The amount of the microsomal cytochrome b5 was increased.

Activation of leukocytes during prolonged physical exercise

Previous studies have demonstrated an increment of circulating leukocytes and enhanced secretion of interleukin-1 by monocytes and macrophages during physical exercise. In the present study the effect of physical exertion on the activity of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes was investigated. Following both short-term (running 2,000 meters) and long-term (running 10,000 meters) exertion, phorbol-stimulated chemiluminescence, as an indicator of leukocytic oxygen radical formation and release of leukocytic elastase, as a parameter of degranulation, were determined immediately after running. The number of circulating leukocytes increased both after short-term (+21%) and long-term (+61%) exercise. There was a minor release of PMN elastase following short-term activity causing plasma levels of this compound to rise from 100 +/- 4.0 ng/ml to 116 +/- 12.3 ng/ml. Long-term exercise, on the other hand, induced a significant increase of elastase plasma levels from 107 +/- 9.1 ng/ml to 300 +/- 23.4 ng/ml, suggesting a remarkable release of this proteinase from neutrophils. Based on these findings we conclude that during physical exercise degranulation of PMN leukocytes occurs. Moreover, the fact that phorbol-stimulated chemiluminescence is decreased after running demonstrates an impaired capability of white cells to generate oxygen radicals.

[The enzymatic degradation of DDT. 6. The fate of the DDT metabolites dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene and dichlorodiphenylmonochloroethylene in the rat]

DDE is hydrogenated in the rat organism. The distribution of the compound is described. DDMU is degradated to DBP as well as transformed to DDA and DDOH. Excretion and distribution are studied.

Transluminal closure of patent ductus arteriosus: long-term results of 208 cases treated without thoracotomy

Patent ductus arteriosus was the first inborn cardiac defect ever eliminated by percutaneous transvascular therapy. The method, results, and complications of Ivalon plugging of the ductus in 208 patients between 5 and 62 years old and treated between 1967 and 1985 are described. Permanent closure was accomplished in 197 patients (94.7%). The following particular benefits are obtainable from the method: no need for thoracotomy; local anesthesia applicable to 65% of all cases; 30 mm average time of intervention; only moderate invasiveness to the patients; only 7 days of hospitalization; good cost-benefit ratio.

[Comparison of the distribution and toxicity of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) following 30 days of administration to rats]

Administration of 1000 ppm alpha-HCH, 600 ppm beta-HCH and greater than or equal to 125 ppm gamma-HCH to rats caused a growth retardation. alpha-HCH and beta-HCH led to livermass enlargement. beta-HCH caused a decrease of absolute brain-mass. In case of alpha-HCH and gamma-HCH fat tissue, kidneys and adrenals had a high burden in residues. Fat tissue and adrenals had high residues of beta-HCH. The level of HCH-residues during the test period was gamma much less than beta less than alpha. The results are discussed taking into account the contradictory knowledge from literature.

[The enzymatic degradation of DDT. 3. Metabolism of DDT]

DDT orally given to rats is converted into DDD by reductive dechlorination in the liver within 30 min. 6 h after a single application of 10 mg DDT per rat a quantity of 60 mg DDD/kg was indicated in the liver. DDT is stored in the adrenal glands; in the other organs an equilibrium comes up obviously, even with further application. The quantitative ratios are reported. Information on the experimental details of DDT determination and--anticipatory to the following publications--on the analysis of the most relevant metabolites is given.

Contrasting effects of ethylenethiourea on hepatic monooxygenases in rats and mice

The effects of ethylenethiourea (ETU) on the hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing system in rats and mice were investigated. Male rats and male mice were given oral doses of 50 and 75, or 50, 75, 100, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg for 3 days. The microsomal enzymes studied were aminopyrine N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase, and cytochrome P-450. In rats, the activity of aminopyrine N-demethylase was reduced to values between 60 and 70% of controls 24 h after treatment. A decrease in aniline hydroxylase activity and cytochrome P-450 content was observed on the 3rd day after exposure. In mice, treatment with ETU resulted in an increase of cytochrome P-450 at all dose levels. The activity of aniline hydroxylase was significantly elevated in the groups receiving doses of 100 mg/kg and higher. Aminopyrine N-demethylase was unaffected by the treatment. The results suggest that there are qualitative differences between rats and mice after ETU exposure with respect to the response of the hepatic mono-oxygenases.

[Transformation reactions of special metals in organisms and in the environment. 3. In vivo reactions between mercury II chloride and monomethyltin trichloride in rats]

Following the comments on the metabolism and the toxicity of methylmercury compounds as well as on the interaction with food components and a few environmental chemicals from literature study, the results of the in vivo experiments for examining the reaction between HgCl2 and CH3SnCl3 in the gastrointestinal tract and the subsequent distribution of the formed methylmercury are reported. The reaction between both of the substances proceeding in aqueous solution with immediate formation of methylmercury also leads in the intestinal tract very rapidly to the formation of methylmercury and its distribution into various organs. An increase in the relative weight of liver and kidneys was evident.

[Effect of allyl isothiocyanate on cytochrome P-450 of rat liver microsomes]

The thrice-repeated oral administration of graded doses (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of body mass) of allyl mustard oil to rats resulted in a decrease of the cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 contents of the liver microsomes. There occurred a dose-dependent increase in mass of this organ.

[Significance and importance of enzyme diagnosis in the framework of toxicological studies of plant protectives, pesticides and agents for biological process control]

In toxicological experimentation, clinico-chemical and biochemical data are increasingly involved in the comprehensive evaluation of adverse effects of plant protectives, pesticides and agents for the biological process control on the mammalian organism. Blood serum and urine or organic homogenates from experimental animals kept under standardized conditions are chiefly used for enzymodiagnostic analyses. Changes in enzyme activity occurring under the influence of the bioactive test substances must be regarded as indicative of direct effects on the biocatalyst, metabolic changes or impairments of certain organs.

[Synergism of selected pesticides. 1. Acute oral toxicity in combined administration]

Comparative studies with male rats were performed to investigate the coergism of single oral doses of selected pesticides, the comparison being based on the lethal effects observed. The quantitative analysis of the dose-mortality relationship and the determination of the coergistic index evidenced a slight increase of the lethal effect with lindane-phosmet and lindane-carbaryl combinations. The combined administration of lindane and ethylenethiourea resulted in an additive lethal effect.