Do the hydrolysis products, methylamine and N,N'-dimethylurea, play any role in the methyl isocyanate-induced haematological and biochemical changes in rabbits?
The subcutaneous administration of methyl isocyanate (MIC) to female rabbits, resulted in significant increases in haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte volume fraction and leucocyte number in blood, as well as plasma total proteins, and urea. The present study was designed to investigate whether the hydrolytic products of MIC, methylamine (MA) and N,N'-dimethylurea (DMU) play any role in eliciting these changes. Both MA and DMU administered subcutaneously in an equimolar dose to that of 1.0 LD50 MIC, 2.2 mmol kg-1, had no influence on these parameters, although there was a marginal increase in the plasma urea level shortly after the administration of DMU. This study establishes that the observed haematological and biochemical changes induced by MIC intoxication in rabbits are mostly due to MIC.
Jeevaratnam
K
K
Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior, India.
Sugendran
K
K
Vaidyanathan
C S
CS
D000818:Animals; D000986:Antisickling Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D003485:Cyanates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D006868:Hydrolysis; D017953:Isocyanates; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008744:Methylamines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008782:Methylurea Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000097:blood; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D011817:Rabbits; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
D000986:Antisickling Agents; D003485:Cyanates; D006454:Hemoglobins; D017953:Isocyanates; D007773:Lactates; D008744:Methylamines; D008782:Methylurea Compounds; D011773:Pyruvates; D012709:Serum Albumin; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D014508:Urea; C008461:methyl isocyanate; C018275:1,1-dimethylurea