Alpha Naphthylthiourea (ANTU) in Dogs

Abstract

Summary and Conclusion

Oral and intravenous administration of lethal doses of alpha naphthylthiourea (ANTU) to 4 dogs caused death by affecting the permeability of pulmonary and pleural capillaries, which resulted in marked pulmonary edema and pleural effusion. Electrophoretic and nitrogen determinations of the sera showed consistent decreases in the concentration of albumin several hours before death. The proteins of the pleural effusion showed a higher albumin : globulin ratio than those of the serum. The total plasma cholesterol concentration decreased shortly before death and was approximately the same in the effusion.

Dogs fed increasingly greater amounts of ANTU during frequent intervals develop a tolerance for large doses of the drug. An increase in the serum α globulin concentration appeared to be a characteristic finding in the development of the tolerance. The plasma cholesterol concentration increased markedly during drug administration and diminished when it was discontinued.