title: Subchronic toxicology of butyl nitrites in mice by inhalation.
abstract: Mice were exposed by inhalation to n-butyl, iso-butyl sec-butyl or tert-butyl nitrite in a dynamic airflow chamber 7 h per day for 60 days at concentrations that caused less than 20% fatalities. Under these conditions, body-weight gain was depressed over the first 30 days by all four compounds, but returned to normal over the final 30 days for all compounds except tert-butyl nitrite. Spleen weights were increased by all four butyl nitrites, and lung weights were increased by all except sec-butyl nitrite. Kidney weights were increased by iso-butyl and sec-butyl nitrites, but decreased by the tert-butyl compound. Liver weights were increased by iso-butyl nitrite exposure and decreased by tert-butyl nitrite exposure. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that a significant aspect of butyl nitrite toxicity is due to the resultant methemoglobinemia.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Maickel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D009573:Nitrites / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; C024225:n-butyl nitrite; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D007521:Isocitrate Dehydrogenase; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase