EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON n-BUTYLPYRROLIDINE POISONING

I. ACUTE AND SUBACUTE TOXICITY

Abstract

In a factory a worker died shortly after he received an accidental pour of the n-butylpyrrolidine over his upper trunk. In this connection animal experiments were undertaken to obtain some information on toxic properties of this substance.
Intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and oral LD₅₀ values of n-butylpyrrolidine in mice were 37. 3, 56.8 and 51.1 mg/kg respectively. In this respect n-butylpyrrolidine should be regarded as a highly toxic substance. Outstanding feature of this acute poisoning in mice was immediate onset of clonic convulsion with a fatal outcome in several minutes. Once the attack was overcome, the mice showed rapid recovery. Application of n-butylpyrrolidine on sheared skin also revealed its lethal toxicity without any local injury. The LD₅₀ in the skin test was about 1.0 ml/kg and rapid absorption from intact skin was suggested. Daily administration of n-butylpyrrolidine, even at the dose of 20 mg/kg, were tolerated in mice at least until 4 weeks without any evidence of abnormality.