L1. Intro to Toxicology Flashcards
Poison: Toxicant
any solid, liquid, or gas when introduced into a biologic system can interfere with the life processes of the cells of that organism by its own inherent properties.
Poison: Mechanism of Action
Attack common receptors
compete for metabolites
Damage membranes
Alter nucleic acid synthesis
Toxin
Poison from a biological process
Biotoxin
general
Zootoxin
insect / reptile
Mycotoxin
fungal
Phytotoxin
plant
Phycotoxin
Algea
Toxic
refers to adverse effects
Arsenic is toxic to the GIT and kidney
Toxicosis
Disease state of being poisoned
Arsenic toxicosis = acute onset of vomiting progressing to hemorrhagic diarrhea
Toxicity
Essentially the dose
the acute toxicity of Arsenic is 5mg/kg BW
LD50
lethal dose 50
Quantal response of a group
Straight line on semi log or probit paper
Lethal to 50% of animals defined conditions
Does not address severity/clinical characteristics
No relationship to chronic toxicity or other effects
ED50
effective dose 50
NOEL
No Observed Effect Level
NOAEL
No Observed Adverse Effect Level
HNTD
Highest Non-Toxic Dose
Dose-Response
Fundamental relationship in Toxicology
Paracelsus: “All things are poison and nothing is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison”
dose makes the poison
Analytical capabilities are better than our interpretive abilities
Assumptions
- Response is due to the poison
- may only be “associated with”
- Magnitude of the response is dose-related
- higher dose = bigger response
- Quantifiable method of measuring response
- related to molecular events caused by the agent
- Secondary biomarkers
- AChE, AST
- Clinical Response
“Agent”
Poison/toxicant
Chemical - of chemical origin
Xenobiotic - any foreign compound
Toxin - biological origin
Elements - lead, selenium, copper
Pharmaceuticals - Antimicrobial, physiologic drugs
Nutrients - Protein, fat
Response:
What
clinical signs, lesions, sub-clinical