Protection with butylated hydroxytoluene and other compounds against intoxication and mortality caused by...

The antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ethoxyquin protected rats against intoxication and mortality normally produced by hexachlorophene (HCP, 100 mg/kg). BHT also prevented the elevation of cerebrospinal fluid pressure, a central nervous system effect of HCP poisoning. In addition, both phenobarbital and SKF-525A protected against HCP poisoning, with the barbiturate also offering significant protection against triethyltin. L-Ascorbic acid, vitamin E, N,N-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine and reduced and oxidized glutathione over a range of doses were ineffective in preventing HCP lethality. The protective effect of phenobarbital against HCP and triethyltin intoxication further supports existing evidence of a common or similar mechanism of toxic action for these two structurally dissimilar compounds.