A Study of 1, 1-Dimethylhydrazine (udmh).

Sodium, potassium, and calcium concentrations were determined by flame photometry in serum, whole brain homogenate, and brain mitochondrial preparation. Serum potassium and calcium levels were decreased 1 hour after injection of 80 mgkg UDMH. A decrease in serum sodium did not occur until 2 hours after a dosage of 100 mgkg UDMH. No change in electrolyte content was found in whole brain homogenate or mitochondrial preparations. Five milliunits of antidiuretic hormone vasopressin given IP will interrupt a UDHM induced diuresis for 30 to 60 minutes. A large number of individual compounds and mixtures have been studied for their ability to protect rats from the toxic effects of hydrazine. Intracerebral doses of 0.5 to 1.0 mg of PY completely protected hydrazine treated rats from convulsions and death. Animals sacrificed after 24 and 48 hours still showed liver necrosis and fatty infiltration. Appropriate intravenous and intraperitoneal doses of PY were also partially effective in preventing convulsions and mortality 50 to 83 survival from a lethal dose of hydrazine. Pyrodoxine and vitamin B 12 together appear not only to prevent convulsions and fatalities but may also offer some liver protection. These preliminary data suggest that the convulsive mechanism of hydrazine toxicity may be related to deficiency of B6 as is the case with UDMH convulsions but that other toxic effects of hydrazine may be mediated by other mechanisms. Author