Neurobehavioral toxicology and teratology 1986-01-01

Acute effects of some volatile nitrites on motor performance and lethality in mice.

D C Rees, E M Coggeshall, Y Dragan, T J Breen, R L Balster

Index: Neurobehav. Toxicol. Teratol. 8(2) , 139-42, (1986)

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Abstract

Mice were examined for effects on lethality and motor performance on an inverted screen test following inhalation exposure to isoamyl, n-butyl and isobutyl nitrite. All three nitrites produced concentration-related effects on both measures, with EC50s for motor performance only about one-half of the LC50s for lethality. Isoamyl and isobutyl nitrite were equally potent on both lethality and motor performance measures, whereas n-butyl nitrite was significantly more potent than isoamyl and isobutyl for lethality. Slope estimates of the concentration-effect curves for lethality were significantly greater than those of the motor performance measure. The steepness of the concentration-effect curves and low LC50/EC50 ratios relative to abused organic solvents suggest that behaviorally active concentrations of volatile nitrites may put users at risk to other health consequences.