Enhanced Methylglyoxal Toxicity in Oxythiamine Induced Thiamine Deficiency in Mice. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Intraperitoneal injection of methylglyoxal was toxic to mice, the LD₅₀ in normal mice after 24 hours being 290 mg/ kg. The cause of death with doses of 400 mg/kg and above appeared to differ from that produced by lower doses. Neither pre-treatment with a thiamine deficient diet nor pyrithiamine significantly affected the toxicity of methylglyoxal. However, pre-treatment with oxythiamine lowered the LD₅₀ of methylglyoxal to 150 mg/kg. Methylglyoxal was not detected in the urine of normal mice given methylglyoxal, nor in the urine, brain or muscle of mice treated with pyrithiamine or oxythiamine or in mice fed a thiamine deficient diet.