Chemical Protection Against Lethal Effects of Nitrogen Mustard in Rats. ∗

Summary

1. A dose-mortality curve for nitrogen mustard (HN2) given intraperitoneally to 150 Wistar rats gave an LD₅₀ of 1.9 ± S.E. = 0.02 mg of HN2 per kg body weight. Mean survival times for groups of rats killed by moderate doses of HN2 (LD₁₀ through 2 × LD₅₀) were of the order of 4 days. Acute toxic doses (above 7 × LD₅₀) killed in 2 days or less. 2. Methyl and propyl paraben mixed into the saline solution used for injecting sub-lethal doses of HN2 had no effect upon either survival time or mortality of the rats. These additives apparently have no adverse effect on the action of HN2 in clinically acceptable doses. 3. A 600 mg% diet of parabens fed to rats receiving sublethal doses of HN2 increased survival time, but did not reduce mortality. Survival time of rats injected with acute toxic doses of HN2 was increased as much as 1 1/2 days by parabens dissolved in the saline vehicle, with no change of mortality. 4. Pre-feeding of a 5% succinylsulfathiazole diet prolonged survival time of rats treated with HN2 consistently and significantly. 5. Tripolyphosphate administered by various routes had no protective effect upon survival time or mortality rate of rats injected with HN2. 6. The mechanism of action of the drugs is discussed.