Abstract
The acute toxicity of carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) was studied in ddY mice and Wistar rats. Test drugs were prepared as 0.5% carboxymethylcellorse suspension (Ge-132-CMC suspension) and 60% solution in distilled water at pH 7 containing sodium hydrogen carbonate (Ge-132-pH 7 solution) . Drugs were administered orally, subcutaneously, intraperitoneally and intraveneously. The LD50values of Ge-132-CMC suspension were estimated 11, 950mg/kg, p.o., 7, 805mg/kg, s.c. and 21, 70mg/kg, i.p. in mice and 11, 350mg/kg, p.o., and 3350mg/kg, i.p, in rats. The LD50value of s.c. administered Ge-132-CMC suspension in rats was not estimated for the outflow of this suspension from administration site. The LD50values of Ge-132-pH 7 solution were estimated 11, 600mg/kg, p.o., 12, 350mg/kg, s.c.. and 5, 720 mg/kg, i.v. in mice and 10, 050mg/kg, p.o., 17, 050mg/kg, s.c. and 4, 590mg/kg, i.v. in rats. LD50values of Ge-132-pH 7 solution i.v. administration in mice and rats were a larger than Ge-132-CMC suspension i.p, administration. In each route administered Ge-132, the mice and rats revealed the toxic signs such as writhing, decrease in spontaneous movement, loss of righting and withdrawal reflex and inhibition of respiration. In addtion to, the mice and rats administered Ge-132-pH 7 solution died after showing opisthotonus and tonic convulsion, subcutaneously administration of Ge-132-CMC suspension caused the corrosion and necrosis of subcutaneous. From these results, it was suggested that the acute toxicity of Ge-132 in mice and rats was lower.
