Severe Metabolic Acidosis in the Rat Induced by Toxic Doses Of Tetracycline. ∗

Summary

Treatment of rats with tetracycline in a dosage of 400 mg/kg results in a syndrome somewhat similar to reported cases in humans of death following intravenous administration of large doses of tetracycline. The rats rapidly developed a severe metabolic acidosis with arterial pH levels frequently decreasing to values below 7.10 units. The acidosis was disproportionately severe for the degree of azotemia present. In addition, marked hyperkalemia frequently developed within 4-8 hours after administration of tetracycline. It is suggested that death resulted from an overwhelming metabolic acidosis or cardiac arrhythmias due to hyperkalemia.