EFFECT OF TOLUENE ON THE RECOVERY OF BENZENE POISONED RABBITS

• Published in: Sangyo Igaku Vol. 3; no. 6; pp. 336 - 342
• Main Author: URATA, Junichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society for Occupational Health 1961
• ISSN: 0047-1879; 1881-1302
• DOI: 10.1539/joh1959.3.336

The effect of toluene on the recovery of disarranged blood pictures of rabbits induced by benzene administration was studied. Twenty adult male rabbits, divided into 4 groups of 5 each, were used in the experiment. Group I and II received subucutaneous injections of 0.5ml/kg of a mixed solution of benzene and olive oil in equal volumes every other day, 3 times a week for 2 weeks, and Group III and IV received equal amounts of olive oil during the same period. From the 3rd week, 0.5ml/kg of a mixed solution of toluene and olive oil in equal volumes was administered subcutaneonsly, every other day 3 times a week for 4 weeks, to Group II and III. During the same period, Group I and IV received only an equal volume of olive oil. The results obtained were as follows; 1) Benzene administration produced the decrease in erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, in hemoglobin content and plasma protein level, and increase in mean corpuscular volume. 2) Except for the increase in the number of leucocytes, no significant changes were observed after injection of toluene only. 3) At the end of 4th week following cessation of benzene administration, the change in the blood pictures produced by benzene showed only a slight return to the initial values. 4) The administration of toluene had no significant effect on the process of recovery from benzene poisoning.