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

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.