Abstract | OBJECTIVE:
Monochloroacetic acid (MCA) is corrosive to skin, and causes not only chemical injury but also fatal systemic poisoning. Little is known about the cause of death. We studied the acute toxicity of MCA before clinical symptoms appeared in fasting rats. METHODS: Blood samples were analyzed 2 h after subcutaneous MCA injection (Ld(90): 162 mg/ml kg body weight). Control rats were injected with saline. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: MCA caused injury to the liver and kidneys but these injuries were slight. However, the larger increase in mAST indicated that hepatocellular mitochondria were selectively targeted. Hepatocellular mitochondrial injury decreased gluconeogenesis and caused hypoglycemia and extremely high levels of lactate and pyruvate. Hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis were insidious before the critical symptoms appeared and this combination accelerated to death, affecting other organs such as the heart and brain. Nosotropic therapy of these abnormalities up to the appearance of symptoms may help to establish an early therapy for skin exposure to MCA.
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Authors | Yumi Toshina, Tomotaro Dote, Kan Usuda, Hiroyasu Shimizu, Mika Tominaga, Koichi Kono |
Journal | Environmental health and preventive medicine
(Environ Health Prev Med)
Vol. 9
Issue 2
Pg. 58-62
(Mar 2004)
ISSN: 1342-078X [Print] Japan |
PMID | 21432300
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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