Dihydroxyacetone as a definitive treatment for aluminium phosphide poisoning in rats

Aluminium phosphide (AlP), a very toxic pesticide also known as the rice tablet, releases phosphine gas upon contact with water, moisture, or gastric acid. Its mortality rate in humans is 70-100 % due to cardiogenic shock and refractory hypotension. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a simple ketonic carbohydrate, mainly used for sunless skin tanning. It also plays a beneficial role in the treatment of hypotension and cardiogenic shock by restoring blood volume and cellular respiration. The aim of this study was to investigate the its effect on the haemodynamics and electrocardiogram (ECG) in male rats poisoned with AlP. The animals were divided into the following groups: control (received 1 mL corn oil, orally), AlP (received 15 mg kg⁻¹ AlP solved in corn oil, orally), AlP plus DHA (treated with 50 mg kg⁻¹ of DHA 30 min after receiving AlP), and AlP plus N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) (treated with 200 mg kg⁻¹ of NAC 30 min after receiving AlP). The animals were then anaesthetised and ECG, blood pressure, and heart rate were recorded for 120 min. Treatment with AlP alone and in combination with NAC was associated with progressive hypotension, tachycardia, and ECG disturbances in rats, resulting in 100 % mortality 3 h after poisoning. However, DHA achieved 100 % survival in the poisoned rats and prevented AlP-induced ECG and haemodynamic abnormalities. The main mechanism of DHA in the treatment of AlP poisoning is unclear, but the findings suggest the promising therapeutic potential of DHA against AlP poisoning.