Dimethyl sulphide

Specific investigations: other studies

Administrative data

Endpoint:

specific investigations: other studies

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

other information

Study period:

data not available

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Synergism between mercaptans and ammonia or fatty acids in the production of coma: a possible role for mercaptans in the pathogenesis of hepatic coma

Author:

Zieve L, Doizaki WM and Zieve FJ

Year:

1974

Bibliographic source:

J Lab Clin Med, 83(1), 16-28

Materials and methods

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

GLP compliance:

no

Type of method:

in vivo

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Dimethyl sulphide

EC Number:

200-846-2

EC Name:

Dimethyl sulphide

Cas Number:

75-18-3

Molecular formula:

C2H6S

IUPAC Name:

(methylsulfanyl)methane

Details on test material:

dimethyl sulfide from Eastman Organic Chemicals, Rochester, NY.
Purity was confirmed by injecting the material received into the gas chromatograph and observing a single peak.
No other information available

Test animals

Species:

rat

Strain:

other: Holtzman or Sprague-Dawley

Sex:

male

Details on test animals or test system and environmental conditions:

rat body weight: 285 to 325 grams
No other information available

Administration / exposure

Route of administration:

inhalation: gas

Vehicle:

not specified

Analytical verification of doses or concentrations:

no

Duration of treatment / exposure:

data not available

Frequency of treatment:

data not available

Post exposure period:

none

Doses / concentrations

Remarks:

Doses / Concentrations:
6 dose level between 7 and 12% by volume
Basis:
no data

No. of animals per sex per dose:

each point is based upon 3 to 5 rats

Control animals:

no

Details on study design:

Rats were placed singly in a large 4 liter glass chamber.
Blood concentration in dimethyl sulfide was determined

Results and discussion

Details on results:

The CD50 (dose at which 50 percent of animals become comatose) in rats was reported as 9.6% (v/v) dimethyl sulfide in air. The blood level of DMS at which coma occurred was 7 µmol/ml blood. A linear correlation was apparent between blood level and dose administered.
The rats went through a brief excitement phase before they became groggy. With doses producing coma in 50% of animals, the excitement phase lasted approximately 2 minutes, then passed quickly into a phase lasting 1 minute in which the rat became groggy and lethargic. This was followed in the next minutes or two by frank coma, the rat falling to its side and rolling over on its back as the chamber was tipped up slightly. With smaller doses the excitement phase and the pre-coma phase were prolonged; with larger doses the entire sequence occurred more quickly. If the rats were removed from the chamber as soon as he became comatose, the coma did not last more than 30 minutes as a rule, and upon recovery the rat appeared and remained alert and active.

Any other information on results incl. tables

DMS decreased the CD50 of the ammonium ion by approximately 50% and the incidence of coma rose from 0 to 100% when the maximum subcoma dose of DMS

(6.36% in air) and the ammonium ion were given together.