The experimental neuropathy in rats caused by p-bromophenylacetylurea.

In 1960, Diezel and Quadbeck reported that parabromophenylacetylurea, when given to rats by mouth in a single dose of 200 mg/kg, caused paralysis of the hind limbs after an interval of 10-14 days. Of 12 halogenated derivatives of phenylacetylurea that these authors studied only this compound had this effect. When they examined these animals histologically up to one month after poisoning, they found degeneration of peripheral nerve fibres and changes in the anterior horn cells and in the white matter of the spinal cord. In view of the apparent similarity of the distribution of the paresis and of the length of the delay period before the onset of symptoms to the neurotoxic sequelae of certain organophosphorus compounds (Cavanagh, 1964a, b), the toxic effects of this substance have been examined in more detail.