[Three-month oral subacute toxicity study of mofezolac (N-22) in rats].

A three-month oral subacute toxicity study of mofezolac (N-22), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, was performed using dose levels of 6, 20, 60 and 200 mg/kg in rats, and recovery was also assessed one month after withdrawal. 1. Toxic signs caused by N-22 administration, observed only in the 200 mg/kg group, were as follows : soiling around the mouth and/or nose, piloerection, anemia, diarrhea, emaciation and decreased spontaneous locomotor activity. Nine males and thirteen females in the 200 mg/kg group excreted bloody diarrhea and died of general exhaustion between weeks four and thirteen of study. 2. In the 200 mg/kg group, decrease in food consumption and suppression of body weight gain were noted in males from about week four and in females from about week six aftef initiation of administration, and increase in water consumption was noted in males from about week seven. 3. Urinary examination revealed a decline in urinary pH in males of the 20 mg/kg and above groups and elevation of urobilinogen levels in males of the 60 and 200 mg/kg groups. 4. Hematological examination showed decreases in erythrocyte count (RBC), hematocrit value (Ht) and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) and increase in reticulocyte rate in both sexes of the 200 mg/kg group and an increase in neutrophil rate in males of the 200 mg/kg group. 5. Biochemical examination demonstrated a decrease in chloride (Cl-) in males receiving the 20 mg/kg or above doses and a decrpase in calcium (Ca++) in males of the 60 and 200 mg/kg groups. Moreover, there were decreases in cholinesterase (ChE) activity, total protein (TP) and albumin (Alb) values, as well as increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA) and potassium (K+) in both sexes of the 200 mg/kg group, along with elevations in GOT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in females of the 200 mg/kg group. 6. The absolute and/or relative organ weights for liver, kidneys, spleen and adrenals were increased in the 200 mg/kg group. 7. On pathological examination, perforating ulceration in the jejunum and ileum, turbid ascites, adhesion and inflammatory changes in capsules of the abdominal organs, splenomegaly, mesenteric lymph node hyperplasia and inflammatory changes in the thoracic cavity were observed in dead animals of the 200 mg/kg group. Similar pathological changes were observed in a few survival cases of the 200 mg/kg group. 8. After a one month recovery period, the above-mentioned changes had mostly recovered, indicating that they were reversible. 9. These results suggested no-effect dose levels of N-22 in rats to be 6 mg/kg for males and 60 mg/kg for females, and the toxic dose level to be 200 mg/kg for both sexes.