title: Effects of reticuloendothelial blockade on acute saponin poisoning in mice.
abstract: The effect of carbon particles on acute saponin poisoning in mice was studied. Pretreatment of mice with 5-10 mg of carbon particles resulted in protection from saponin intoxication even when given at a lethal dose. The protective effect of carbon particles decreased with increasing time interval between carbon-pretreatment and saponin administration although carbon particles remained in the tissues. Neither simultaneous (as a mixture with saponin) nor post-treatment of carbon particles brought about protection. Histological observations revealed that parenchymal and endothelial cells of the liver and spleen were protected from damage by saponin with the carbon-pretreatment. The results suggest that the reticuloendothelial-system (RES) blockade by carbon particles resulted in the reinforcement of RES, and consequently protected the animals from saponin poisoning, although the mechanism is not yet known.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000506:poisoning*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins; D002244:Carbon