Chronotoxicity of a Copper (II) Complex with a Linear Tetradentate Ligand in Mice

In vitro copper (II) complex presents antimitotic effects. In this work, we have studied the in vivo seasonal toxic effects of copper (II), ligand (H2L) and the complex [Cu(H2L)(H2O)2]Cl2·4H2O in male Swiss mice. During spring, an i.p. injection of CuCl2 in aqueous NaCl (9 g·l-1) up to 0.05 µmol·kg-1 b.w. (body weight) killed 60% of the rodents after 6 days. LD100 was up to 0.3 µmol·kg-1; H2L was well tolerated, while the complex was 30% lethal with 50 µmol·kg-1. In autumn, mice were less sensitive to CuCl2, and both ligand and complex were equally tolerated and this leads to the conclusion that, in vivo, chronotoxicities of copper (II) and complex in NaCl aqueous solutions are quite different in spring and autumn seasons.