Antidotal efficacy of glutamate and aspartate for colchicine toxicity

Glutamic and aspartic acids were evaluated for their antidotal efficacy in colchicine toxicity. Female adult inbred mice were treated with ip doses of either 1000 mg glutamic acid (GA) or aspartic acid (AA)/kg bw by various treatment schedules relative to the administration of an ip LD5n of 7.8 mg colchicine/kg bw. Mice were observed for survival and changes in body weight. Pretreatment with AA increased survival by 42% (p = 0.01). Concurrent AA treatment improved survival non-significantly (p = 0.07). With post-exposure AA therapy, however, mortality was increased (p = 0.005). No significant beneficial effects of GA occurred. Early AA therapy improves survival in colchicine poisoned mice, but as delay in treatment is increased, AA efficacy is lost.