SUGAR ALCOHOLS

XXVI. Pharmacodynamic Studies of Polyoxyalkylene Derivatives of Hexitol Anhydride Partial Fatty Acid Esters

¹ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore

1. The parenteral administration of Tween 20 to several species of animals has been investigated. Injections of five per cent solutions subcutaneously and intramuscularly are well tolerated by the monkey. Intravenous injections produce transient depressor responses in all species of laboratory animals tested (except the dog) when given in small doses. Larger doses produce coma and death.

Tween 20 is hemolytic to red cells in concentrations of 100 mg. per cent within 90 minutes in vitro.

2. Tweens 20, 40, 60 and 80 produce in the dog a deep and protracted fall in blood pressure.

3. The depressor response appears to be due to the release of histamine or histamine-like substances which act upon the capillary bed.

4. This allergic depressor response is not elicited in the rat, guinea pig, cat, rabbit, Macacus rhesus monkey, chicken or man.

5. To 4 hospitalized patients 2 to 8 cc. of Tween 20, 5 per cent solution, has been given intravenously. There were no discernible deleterious effects.

We are of the opinion that intravenous therapy with Tween 20 may be explored cautiously in man. If subsequent studies do not reveal untoward effects not observed in these exploratory injections, many avenues of usefulness may manifest themselves for these substances.