THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS SULFUR-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS ON ALPHANAPHTHYLTHIOUREA (ANTU) TOXICITY TO RATS

¹ Research Grants Division, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
² Toxicology Section, Medical Division, Army Chemical Center, Md.

1. n-Amyl mercaptan in an intraperitoneal dose of 0.5 ml./kg. was successful in delaying the onset of symptoms, increasing survival time, and reducing mortality when administered to rats simultaneously with the intraperitoneal injection of 2 LD₅₀'s of ANTU. When injected prophylactically one hour before ANTU was given, or therapeutically one hour following ANTU administration, the amyl mercaptan was approximately equally effective. Even against highly lethal doses of 5 and of 10 LD₅₀'s of ANTU, this compound decreased the mortality and markedly increased survival time.

2. Of other mercaptans tested, tertiary butyl was not quite as effective as the n-amyl; benzyl mercaptan was only slightly effective; and tertiary dodecyl mercaptan produced no beneficial results. Hydrosulphosol, reputed to contain free—SH groups, conferred no protection.

3. Experiments conducted with 2-methylmercaptoethanol, 1,2-bis(2-hydroxy-ethyl-1-thio) ethylene, and bis (2,2'-hydroxyethylmercaptoethyl) sulfide, were all negative. However, thiodiglycol caused a delay in the onset of symptoms, an increase in survival time, and a reduction in mortality when injected intra-peritoneally in doses of 1.5 or 2.0 ml./kg. simultaneously with the injection of 2 LD₅₀'s of ANTU.

4. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, rutin, sodium salicylate, and 5-iodoacetyl-salicylic acid were totally ineffective against 2 LD₅₀'s of ANTU.