Effectiveness of dextran sulfate on acute toxicity of paraquat in mice and rats.

Abstract

The alleviation of acute toxicity of paraquat dichloride (PQ) by sodium dextran sulfate (DS), which is clinically used for antihyperlipemia was studied in mice and rats. When mice were orally given DS (2000 mg/kg) or sodium polystylene sulfonate (SPS), (2000 mg/kg) within 1 h (0, 10, 20, 30, 60 min) after PQ ingestion (200 mg/kg), the effectiveness of DS in alleviating PQ toxicity was greater than that of SPS. In rats treated with DS (2000 mg/kg) or SPS (2000 mg/kg), within 4 h (0, 2, 4 h) after PQ administration (200 mg/kg), the effectiveness of DS was less than that of SPS. However, the effectiveness of DS in the alleviation of toxicity was similar to that of SPS, when given to mice and rats (2000 mg/kg) within a short time after PQ ingestion (200 mg/kg). These results suggested that DS might serve as an antidote for acute toxicity of PQ.