Toxicity of sodium pentafluorostannite. A new anticariogenic agent. III. 30-Day toxicity study in rats.

For 30 days, groups of 12–19 Wistar rats (divided according to sex) were dosed daily by gavage with distilled water or with 20, 100, or 175 mg/kg sodium pentafluorostannite. On Days 14 and 29, blood was collected from five rats in each group to determine hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume. On Days 15 and 30, rats were sacrificed, blood collected, and serum urea nitrogen (BUN), direct and total bilirubin, SGOT activity, inorganic phosphorus, calcium and glucose concentrations were determined. A necropsy was performed on each rat, its organs weighed, and sections prepared for microscopic examination. After 15 and 30 days, growth was depressed in a dose-related manner. Serum glucose concentration was also lowered. Microscopic findings in organs were generally unremarkable except for degenerative changes of the proximal tubular epithelium of the kidneys in 15–20% of the animals in the 175-mg/kg groups. Animals that died spontaneously displayed signs suggestive of cardiac failure, including congestion of the liver, spleen, lungs and/or kidneys. In addition, most had moderate to severe renal tubular necrosis.