Influence of hyperoxia on the acute toxicity of paraquat and diquat. [Rats]

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Drug Chem. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3109/01480547909016033· OSTI ID:6500305

Kehrer, J P; Haschek, W M; Witschi, H

Hyperoxia has been shown to enhance the toxicity of the herbicide paraquat. Experiments were conducted to learn more about the effects of oxygen following acute poisoning with paraquat as well as the structurally related herbicide, diquat. Rats were injected intravenously with various doses of diquat or paraquat and placed into an atmosphere of either 100% oxygen or room air. The time required for 50% lethality (LT/sub 50/) of both diquat and paraquat was greatly diminished by hyperoxia and was dependent upon the herbicide dosage. Rats treated with 40 or 80 mg/kg diquat and exposed to 100% oxygen had a shorter LT/sub 50/ than those treated similarly with paraquat. A dose of 20 mg/kg was equitoxic in 100% oxygen while rats treated with 5 or 10 mg/kg diquat had a longer LT/sub 50/ than rats treated with the same dose of paraquat. All animals exhibited severe respiratory distress terminally. The plasma concentrations and tissue distribution of either herbicide at 20 mg/kg were the same in oxygen and air exposed animals. When oxygen concentrations were varied between 100% and 60% rats treated with 20 mg/kg diquat or paraquat exhibited increasing but equal LT/sub 50's/. In 40% oxygen diquat treated rats died more rapidly than paraquat treated rats. These data demonstrate a toxic interaction between hyperoxia and diquat as well as paraquat.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6500305
• Journal Information: Drug Chem. Toxicol.; (United States), Journal Name: Drug Chem. Toxicol.; (United States) Vol. 2:4; ISSN DCTOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551001 -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
553001 -- Agriculture & Food Technology-- Tracer Techniques-- (-1987)
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON 14
CARBON ISOTOPES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DISTRIBUTION
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HERBICIDES
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LETHAL DOSES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN
PESTICIDES
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES