[The subacute toxicity of glucosylthiazolidine-4-carbonic acid in rats].

Glucosylthiazolidine-4-carbonic acid, an intermediate of the Maillard reaction between D-glucose and L-cysteine, was given in doses of 0, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg b.w. by oral intubation to male and female rats for 21 days. General appearance, growth, food consumption, haematology, urine analysis and serum chemistry including determinations of enzyme activities, organ weights and macroscopic and microscopic pathology were used as criteria for adverse effects. Effects on the kidneys were indicated by oliguria and decreased specific gravity of the urine in males and histopathological changes of the proximal tubules in females. The no-effect dose established from this study is 25 mg/kg b.w.