Distribution of Formic Acid after Methanol Intoxication in Rats / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate concentration and distribution in blood and tissues of formic acid after methanol intoxication in rats.@*METHODS@#The Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups for control group and 3-day and 7-day intoxication treatment groups. The experimental groups were administered methanol by gavage with the initial dose of 8 mL/kg and followed with 4 mL/kg supplemental dose 24 h later. After 3 days and 7 days later, rats were killed by decapitation. Then samples of cardiac blood, liver, kidney, brain, heart and stomach of each group were collected. Formic acid concentrations were detected by high performance liquid chromatography.@*RESULTS@#Formic acid concentrations in tissues were higher than in blood. Compared with 3-day intoxication group, there was an increase formic acid of concentration in brain and stomach in 7-day intoxication group, while a decrease in liver and kidney (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#High performance liquid chromatography could be used to accurately detect formic acid. As the metabolite of methanol, formic acid accumulates in rat blood and tissues after intoxication and the concentrations in organs and tissues are obviously higher than in blood.

Methanol poisoning: clinical manifestations, investigations, formic acid level, management, and outcome

The present work was carried out to study patients with acute methanol poisoning as regards severity of clinical manifestations, laboratory investigations, formic acid level and management and to correlate these with the outcome. The study included twenty patients diagnosed as acute methanol poisoning following consumption of wine. They were admitted to Alexandria Poison Center [APC] and critical care medicine department at Alexandria Main University Hospital during four months period [February-May] in the year 2001. Patients were interviewed and clinically examined. Blood samples were collected immediately after admission for estimation of serum formate, blood gases and acid-base status. Also, brain computed tomography scanning [CT] was done. The results revealed that acute methanol poisoning is more common in young age group from 15-35 years [70.0%]. The longer the latent period i.e. the time lapsed since intake of methyl alcohol and appearance of symptoms, the lowest were the pH and bicarbonate levels, the highest was serum formate level and the worst was the CT and outcome