One year feeding experiments, using Wister strain rats, were carried out to compare chronic toxicity of a new nitrofuran, 2- (2-furyl) -3- (5-nitro-2-furyl) acryl amide, with that of nitrofurazone.
Two nitrofuran compounds were incorporated in the basal diet at the concentrations of 0.0, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02per cent respectively.
A total of 88 rats, weighing 80-110g. was used. Six males and six females were placed in each of the diet groups.
The results obtained are following.
When the general observation made on rats eating the drugs in the diet, it appears that no definite signs of toxicity were observed in each levels of nitrofuran: such as food consumption, drug intake, appearance of skin, hair, state of motility, and mortality.
From an analysis of growth curves, no differences were observed between the new nitrofuran and the control in body weight gain, while the body gains of the animals fed nitrofurazone were slightly less than those of controls.
In post-mortem examination, the authors did not find any pathological changes in thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, main internal organs, skin, bone and ingestive organs.
Haematological nature was also shown normal levels.
Accumulation of the drugs in liver and kidney was not observed.
The data of microscopic examination will be described in next report.