Influence of ethanol pretreatment of differing duration on toxic effects of carbon tetrachloride in rats.

Serum activities of alanine-aminotransferase (ALAT, EC 2.6.1.2), aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT, EC 2.6.1.1), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, EC 1.1.1.27), and alkaline phosphatase (AP, EC 3.1.3.1) were increased significantly after a dose of 0.16 g/kg/b. w. (ip.) carbon tetrachloride (tetrachloromethane) in rats pretreated with 10% (v/v) ethanol for one and 10 weeks in comparison with water/carbon tetrachloride-treated animals. At the end of 30 and 52 weeks of ethanol consumption these levels were very slightly increased or not detectable. Ethanol treatment alone did not cause an increase in serum enzyme activities or histological liver damage, but caused a diminished intake of fluid and food and in some cases also a reduction of weight gain in the animal body. Significant decrease in body weight after carbon tetrachloride was more evident in rats pretreated with ethanol (1 week greater than 10 greater than or equal to 52 weeks) than in water drinking animals, the lethality caused by carbon tetrachloride was also higher after one and 10 weeks than after 30 to 52 weeks of ethanol pretreatment. The results indicate a decrease of carbon tetrachloride toxicity with increased duration of ethanol pretreatment. This phenomenon could be attributed to reduced sensibility to those alcohol effects which are responsible for increase of carbon tetrachloride toxicity.

[Detoxification with orthograde intestinal lavage in oral poisoning by tetrachloromethane (CCl4) in an animal experiment]. / Zur Giftentfernung mit orthograder Darmspülung bei oraler Intoxikation durch Tetrachlormethan (CCI4) im Tierversuch.

A detoxication treatment with whole-gut irrigation was used in 231 rats after intragastral application of tetrachloromethane. Different irrigation methods were compared by means of survival time, liver enzyme activities and time until the beginning of diarrhoe. In comparison to the untreated animals significantly longer survival time could be found with whole-gut irrigation. By initial application of carbo medicinalis the liver enzyme activity rise in serum was at its lowest level and the diarrhoe could begin faster than in additional laxans (paraffin, Bisacodyl and sodium sulfate) use. A poison removal with whole-gut irrigation and carbo medicinalis use is also to be proposed when tetrachloromethane is ingested by human beings.

Influence of alcohol pretreatment on effects of chloroform in rats.

Methanol, ethanol and isopropanol were tested for the ability to change effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons on the alanine aminotransferase (ALAT = GPT; EC 2.6.1.2.) activity in serum of rats. The alcohols were given once orally or repeatedly together with drinking water. After additional i.p. administration of chloroform we found a significant increase of ALAT activities in the order: isopropanol greater than or equal to methanol greater than ethanol, both after single and repeated application of the alcohols. Together with trichloroethene and 1.1.2.2-tetrachloroethane no such elevations were found. The results suggest that different mechanisms of action could be underlying.

Serum enzymes in toxicity of trichloroethylene after subchronic ethanol pretreatment.

In order to establish evidence of serum enzyme activities in toxicological long-term experiments alterations of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) in the serum of rats were investigated after subchronic ethanol pretreatment and following trichloroethylene exposure. Somewhat lower enzyme activities were found in ethanol treated animals than in those who only got water in nearly all cases. Significant ALAT and ASAT decreases occurred after giving higher ethanol concentrations (5% and 10%, v/v) for 30 weeks. It is possible that this fact among other things could be responsible for the only slight enzyme elevations after trichloroethylene in long-term ethanol pretreated rats.

[Bases of medical treatment of acute poisonings]. / Grundsätze des ärztlichen Handelns bei akuten Vergiftungen

The measures of the physician who is first in charge of the case often decisive for the course of the intoxication. Severe intoxication with disturbance of the vital functions immediately demand the removal of the acute danger to life. The effectivity of the detoxication treatment following the elementary therapy increases with the degree of exactness of the diagnosis. Therefore, already at the place of establishment the differential diagnostics of the cause of intoxication begins. To this belongs the asservation of poisons. In certain intoxications the detoxication is a constituent of the elementary therapy. Since only few antidotes are known the dominant factor of the detoxication treatment is above all in the unspecific detoxication treatment is above all in the unspecific detoxication. Its most important means are the prevention of the enteral resorption as well as forced renal elimination and dialysis. Experiences with barbiturate intoxications only with restriction are to be transmitted to other medicaments. Aslo among the groups of the barbiturates, the barbiturate-free sleeping drugs, the psychopharmaca, analgetics and others certain medicaments distinguish themseleves by characteristic effects which must be taken into consideration during treatment. Indication and differential indication of forced diuresis, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are last not least determined by individual conditions and reactions on the part of the patient, concomitant diseases and complications. Taking into consideration the fact that a schematisation in detail is not to be proposed it is tried to derive and to prove recommendations for the medical action in acute intoxications.