Protection against acute toxicity of acetaldehyde in mice.

The ability of several compounds to protect against acetaldehyde-induced loss of righting reflex was studied in mice and compared with previously published results in rats. L-cysteine (3 mMoles/kg), L-ascorbic acid, DL-thioctic acid, or DL-homocysteine (2 mMoles/kg each) was administered orally 30 minutes prior to an intraperitoneal ED90 of acetaldehyde (415 mg/kg). Cysteine, ascorbate, and thioctic acid caused a statistically significant reduction in acetaldehyde-induced toxicity, while homocysteine afforded only little protection. These results are qualitatively, but not quantitatively, similar to those reported for rats.