Effect of Nabam and Ethylenethiourea on the Urinary Output of Rats

Abstract

Knowledge of toxic effects of dithiocarbamates and their metabolites on physiological functions of animal organism is scanty. The effects of nabam (disodium ethylenebisdithiocarbamate) and ethylenethiourea (ETU), the main final metabolite of nabam (Fishbein 1976) were studied on the renal function of rats. Water (controls), and aqueous solutions of nabam and ETU were given ad libitum to rats for 23 days. The rats were kept individually in metabolism cages, and the exact amount of solution drunk and spilled, and the volume of urine excreted were measured each morning when the animals were also weighed. The concentrations of nabam and ETU were increased in a pyramidal fashion during the experiment. The concentration of nabam was 45 mg/l for the first 14 days, 90 for the next 6 days, and 180 for the 3 last days. The corresponding daily doses were 9.9, 15.6, and 28.8 mg/kg. The concentrations of ETU were 180, 360, and 540 mg/1, and the daily doses 37.4, 53.6, and 58.8 mg/kg. ETU seemed somewhat to decrease the body weight, corrected drinking and urination as analysed by linear regression and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (Table 1). ETU also decreased the body weight gain of the animals in higher doses obviously as a result of its general toxicity. The results suggest that ETU may hamper the kidney function of rats at rather low doses.