Abstract
Acute starvation, particularly in children, is often encountered due to infections. This is frequently accompanied by fever and requires antipyretic therapy. Since acetaminophen is widely used under these circumstances, we determined its toxicity (LD50) in young (8 day old) and adult male mice (strain CD-1). Animals were deprived of food for 6 hours with free access to water. Mice of both ages were intubated orally with either a drug suspension (500 to 4000 mg/kg) in tragacanth (o.25%) or vehicle and twenty-four hour LD50 data were computed. In adults, food deprivation for 6 hrs decreased LD50 from 1500 mg (control) to 750 mg (starved). In yound pups, however, starvation did not change LD50 of acetaminophen. Furthermore, when we compared the half-life of acetaminophen (500 mg/kg, P.O., single dose) in the young vs adult control mice, the data show that the mean half-life was longer in the young (4.59 hrs) than in the adults (o.85 hrs). The fraction of the drug absorbed was also higher in the young (78%) compared to the adults (57%). Thus, these results indicate that acute starvation in young mice does not alter the toxicity of acetaminophen which is in contrast to adults. The reasons for this phenomenon are unknown. (Supported in part by NIH grant HD 10063).
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sonawane, B., Sills, M., Schrager, R. et al. 371 ACUTE STARVATION AND ACETAMINOPHEN TOXICITY IN YOUNG VS ADULT MICE. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 502 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00382
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00382