Pain caused by Degradation Product of Sodium Cephalothin Injection

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Abstract
When sodium cephalothin (CET) injections were allowed to stand, they decomposed and became colored. The effect of the injection, kept under different storage conditions, on the experimental animals was discussed. The pain in mice was indicated by writhing response, by the i.p. administration of the CET injections stored at constant 4.degree. and 37.degree. C. A more remarkable writhing response was observed with the injection stored at 37.degree. than that at 4.degree.. The major degradation products of the injection were identified as acetic acid, deacetylcephalothin and deacetoxycephalothin by various chromatographic and GC-MS [gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy] techniques. The higher the storage temperature is, the larger the amount of degradation product. Rate of decomposition of CET injection stored at 37.degree. for 24 h was about 30%, calculated from the amount of acetic acid produced. Neutralization of the CET injection stored at 37.degree. for 24 h with NaOH solution decreased the pain in mice. Induced pain may be mainly attributed to the acetic acid produced by degradation.

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