title: Glycine toxicity after high-dose i.v. infusion of 1.5% glycine in the mouse.
abstract: Glycine 1.5% is the most widely used irrigating fluid during endoscopic procedures. To investigate if glycine toxicity is a mechanism promoting a fatal outcome when the solution is absorbed, we administered glycine 200 or 300 ml kg-1 dissolved in sterile water or normal saline, and also normal saline alone, over 60 min by i.v. infusion to 100 mice under methoxyflurane anaesthesia. Survival rates were 29% after 1.5% glycine, 21% after 1.5% glycine in normal saline, 67% after normal saline and 100% in controls. Both solutions containing glycine induced bradycardia and prolongation of the PQ interval and QRS duration, while only 1.5% glycine increased the water content of the myocardium. These results suggest that glycine promotes bradycardia and death, regardless of whether hyponatraemia or hypo-osmolality is present. We conclude that glycine toxicity is an important factor that increases the risk of administration of an irrigating fluid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Central Hospital, Sundsvallt, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000187:drug effects; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009206:Myocardium / Q000737:chemistry; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000633:toxicity; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D005998:Glycine