Subacute toxicity of pentavalent antimony compounds in rats

A subacute toxicity study of pentavalent antimony (Sb) compounds, sodium stibogluconate (SSG) and meglumine antimoniate (MA) was carried out in rats. Three groups of 10 rats each were treated with saline (control group), 300 mg Sb kg-1 d-1 or 900 mg Sb kg-1 d-1 of SSG for 30 d. A parallel study of similar type was conducted for MA. Compared with controls, drug-treated rats showed an impairment of feeding habits and retardation of weight gain (P less than 0.01) during the treatment period. In both SSG- and MA-treated rats there was a dose-related reduction in haemoglobin concentration (P less than 0.001), and hematocrit (P less than 0.001). Red cell count was reduced in SSG-treated rats only. Both drugs, however, significantly raised the white cell count (P less than 0.05). These changes were more pronounced with SSG them with MA. There was no change in MCV, MCH and MCHC. SSG, 900 mg Sb kg-1 d-1, significantly raised AST (P less than 0.005), ALT (P less than 0.01) and alkaline phosphatase activity (P less than 0.01). SSG-treated rats also had raised BUN (P less than 0.01) and creatinine (P less than 0.001), but no significant change in bilirubin levels. MA significantly raised AST (P less than 0.01), ALT (P less than 0.01), BUN (P less than 0.001) and serum creatinine levels (P less than 0.001), but had no appreciable effect on bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels. Both SSG and MA decreased blood glucose levels (P less than 0.01) and induced proteinuria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)