Mechanisms of Drug Toxicity and Antagonism.
Abstract
The initial topic of this symposium emphasizes that the toxicity ascribed to a chemical may be due to a minor contaminant in spite of the fact that the target organ for the toxicity may be quite discrete. The rest of the symposium deals with the antagonism of chemical intoxication. This area of research is still at a relatively primitive stage, as there are very few chemicals where specific antidotes have been designed to antagonize their toxic effects. For example, it would be difficult to enumerate more than a handful of chemical toxicants which can be antagonized their toxic effects. For example, it would be difficult to enumerate more than a handful of chemical toxicants which be antagonized by specific antidotes to protect against 6 LD50 doses. Some of these studies which are presently being presented represent some of the highlights of chemical antagonism. In each of these discussions on chemical antagonism, the approach to develop a specific antagonist has been based on a reasonable scientific basis. More important, the groundwork laid out on these chemical antagonisms have formed the impetus to seek further improvements by gaining greater insight into the mechanism of chemical intoxication and its antagonism. Some of these improvements are based on improving the biologic disposition of the antidote so that the antagonism can be conducted more safety and conveniently. Also, although some of the chemical antagonisms were based on a scientifically sound basis at the time, its mechanism of antagonism presently must be viewed from a different perspective even through the efficacy of the chemical antagonists remain undiminished. Keywords: Cyanide; Organophosphorus compounds; Heavy metals; Sulfur-transferases; and Oxygen.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 29, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA167648
Entities
People
- E. L. Way
- Ing K. Ho
- James L. Way
- Mark Jones
- Toshiko Imamura