The effects of methotrexate and melphalan in sheep.
1 Sheep were injected with either methotrexate or melphalan in an attempt to lower the numbers of neutrophil granulocytes in peripheral blood. 2 Methotrexate, 5.0 mg/kg intravenously, on three consecutive days, produced no noticeable clinical or haematological changes. 3 A single dose of melphalan, 1.0 mg/kg intravenously, depleted lymphocytes and granulocytes, but the numbers of the latter then rose to values exceeding the levels before melphalan treatment. Doubling the dose of melphalan proved fatal. 4 The failure of methotrexate to produce changes can be explained in terms of ruminant metabolism.
D000818:Animals; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008558:Melphalan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors
D008558:Melphalan; D008727:Methotrexate