[Evaluation of the combined effect of copper chloride and sodium nitrate on blood methemoglobin and tryptophan level in rats (subchronic exposure)].

The study was performed on 4 groups of male Wistar rats, receiving p.o. through 3 months every day: 1) sodium nitrite in dose 30 mg/kg b.w. x day (0.2 LD50); 2) copper chloride in dose 4.67 mg/kg b.w. x day (0.03 LD50); 3) copper chloride and sodium nitrite in amounts as above, and 4 - control group - received distilled water. The methemoglobin and hemoglobin were determined in whole blood and tryptophan in plasma 24 hours after the last intoxication. There was showed, that every day intoxication of rats with sodium nitrite cause the increase of methemoglobin concentration and decrease the free tryptophan level in the blood. There was also observed, that copper chloride, administrated together with sodium nitrite, decreases significantly his methemoglobin creating action.