Oleic Acid Toxicity and Fat Embolism.

Abstract

Acute and chronic expts. were carried out on dogs, anesthetized with Na pentobarbital or unanesthetized. All substances were injd. in-traven. Doses of 0.25 ml. of oleic acid had little effect; doses between 0.5 and 5 ml. were highly toxic. Outstanding symptoms were: drop in blood pressure, urination, defecation, rapid forced respirations, coughing and massive pulmonary edema with large amts. of frothy pulmonary exudate followed by death within a short time. Varying degrees of hemolysis were observed. Blood pH and, in most animals, serum Ca, fell. Oleic acid does not seem to produce massive edema of the lungs by embolism but by toxic effects on the capillaries of the lungs. In chronic expts. dogs seemed to acquire a tolerance to oleic acid. Ethyl oleate (0.5-5 ml.) was toxic, but no edema or hemorrhage of the lungs nor hemolysis was observed, and it was never lethal. Na oleate (2 g.) was more toxic than oleic acid. The animals died within a few minutes, showing nearly complete hemolysis. Pure olive oil (5 ml.) produced no untoward reactions nor hemolysis, and it was the least toxic of all substances tested. Microscopically, massive fat embolism was seen in the capillaries of the lungs, yet the lack of clinical symptoms does not seem to fit too well into the clinical picture of fat embolism.