Acute and subacute toxicity in Sherman strain rats exposed to 4,4'‐ and 2,2'‐dipyridyl

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Abstract
When a paraquat-tainted marijuana cigarette is smoked, most of the paraquat is pyrolyzed to 4,4''-dipyridyl, but some enters the lungs unchanged. Acute and subacute toxicity was studied in adult Sherman rats exposed to 4,4'' and 2,2''-dipyridyl. The single oral LD50 for 4,4''-dipyridyl was 175 mg/kg in male and 172 mg/kg in female rats; for 2,2''-dipyridyl it was 100 and 107 mg/kg, respectively. Symptoms of toxicity for 4,4''-dipyridyl included subdued behavior, red stains around mouth and eyes, lacrimation, swelling around the eyes and occasional convulsions. Rats receiving 2,2''-dipyridyl had subdued behavior, loss of muscle coordination, red urine, tremors and convulsions. Onset of symptoms was rapid and most rats died from internal hemorrhage within 2 days after dosing. Rats given lower single oral doses of 90 mg/kg 2,2''-dipyridyl and 155 mg/kg 4,4''-dipyridyl had no symptoms and no organic pathology 2 wk after dosing. Rats given doses of 5.1 and 25.5 mg/kg 4,4''-dipyridyl and 7.13 and 35.6 mg/kg 2,2''-dipyridyl in their drinking water for 3 mo. showed no significant effects that could have been related to the consumption of dipyridyl.

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