[Experimental study on detoxication effect of sulfhydryl compounds in acute poisoning of dimethylformamide].

Objective: To study the change in oxidase and anti-oxidase in liver of the mice poisoned by dimethylformamide (DMF), and the effects of the treatment with sulfhydryl compounds in acute poisoning of DMF.

Methods: The sulfhydryl compounds included sodium dimercaptopropane (Na-DMPS), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), glutathione (GSH) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). The model of acute poisoning with DMF in mice was reproduced, and the left hepatic lobes were harvested at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after DMF to detect the dynamic changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase (XOD) in liver homogenate. Treatment groups included intraperitoneal injection of Na-DMPS, NAC, GSH, DMSA respectively. In the control groups, the activities of XOD and SOD in liver were determined 24 hours after intragastric administration of DMF.

Results: The activities of XOD, SOD in liver were elevated at 24 hours after intragastric administration of DMF (both P<0.01), and returned to the normal levels at 48-72 hours. Compared to the poisoning group, the activities of XOD, SOD in liver homogenate were significantly lowered after the treatment of Na-DMPS, NAC and DMSA (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The activity of XOD in liver homogenate was reduced 24 hours after treating with GSH (P<0.05), and no obvious change was observed in SOD (P>0.05). As far as the activity of SOD was concentrated, Na-DMPS, NAC, DMSA showed better effects than GSH (all P<0.05), and Na-DMPS was the best. There was no significant differences in XOD among the four sulfhydryl compounds.

Conclusion: The balance of oxidase and anti-oxidase is interrupted by DMF, which might be one of the mechanisms of damage to the liver. Na-DMPS, NAC and DMSA could protect liver function by restoring the balance.