Acute synergistic toxicity and hepatic necrosis following oral administration of sodium nitrite and secondary amines to mice.

Abstract

Summary Combined p.o. administration of sodium nitrite and dimethylamine or methylbenzylamine to male mice produced acute synergistic toxicity, as evidenced by relative weight loss, mortality, and liver necrosis. Similar results were obtained when p.o. dosage of dimethylamine was followed by single administration of sodium nitrite at intervals up to 3 hr; toxicity was, however, markedly reduced when sodium nitrite was administered prior to dimethylamine. The incidence of mortality and liver necrosis was dependent on the time interval separating successive administrations of sodium nitrite and dimethylamine.