Oral toxicity and lipotropic potency of the triethyl homologue of choline

Abstract

Triethyl-2-hydroxyethylammonium chloride (TEC1) possesses a low chronic oral toxicity as well as low acute oral toxicity; the LD50, about 316 mg. for rats weighing 160 g., indicates that TEC1 is approx. twice as toxic as choline chloride when given orally. Lipotropic dose-response curves for TEC1 and choline chloride show that the lipotropic activity of TEC1 is seen to be about 20% of that of choline chloride on a molecular basis. Male rats did not exhibit any lack of lipotropic response to TEC1, i.e., both sexes responded similarly. Supplements of TEC1 added to hypolipo-tropic basal diets did not permit growth, but did prevent the development of hemorrhagic kidneys in weanling rats. The significance of this apparent confirmation of statements in the literature is discussed.