[Various metabolic or toxic effects which can result from short term ingestion of sulfurous acid by the rat].

The work reported below was conducted for the purpose of evaluating the toxicity of two levels of potassium metabisulfite on various aspects of metabolism in adult rats. It appears that the two doses do not disturb the activity of acid plasmatic phosphatase. The increase of the pyruvic acid o blood caused for the higher level of sulfite (50 mg/kg/day) is considerably increased for absorption of a diet containing 67% of sugar, and considerably decreased by injection the day before the dosage of 200 microgram thiamine.