[Experimental study on methyl bromide poisoning in mice. Acute inhalation study and the effect of glutathione as an antidote].

The objectives of this study were to determine the LC50 of methyl bromide (MeBr) and the dose-response curve and to study the detoxication effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) on MeBr poisoning in mice. 1) The LC50 of 4-h exposure to MeBr was 405 ppm in male mice with 95% confidence limits of 386-425 ppm. 2) The mortality rates of mice exposed to 500 ppm MeBr for 105, 120, 130, 140, 150 and 180 min were 0, 0, 10.7, 15.0, 85.0 and 90.0%, respectively. 3) In contrast, the mortality rate of mice pretreated with GSH (i.p 500 mg/kg; GSH-group) was only 5.3% after exposure to 500 ppm MeBr for 150 min. 4) Metabolic substances (Br-, GSH, formaldehyde, formic acid and beta-glucuronidase) were analyzed after exposure to 500 ppm MeBr and compared with the GSH-group and the distilled water treated group (DW-group). Except for GSH, concentrations of all other substances were significantly lower in the GSH-group than in the DW-group. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility test showed a significant increase in fragility in the DW-group. These results suggested that the onset of symptoms or death due to MeBr poisoning suddenly occurs at some point of concentration and time exposure. It was also shown that pretreatment with GSH effectively reduced mortality due to MeBr exposure.