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6387009 
Journal Article 
Toxicity of Pantothenic Acid 
Unna, K; Greslin, J 
1940 
45 
1 
311-312 
Pantothenic acid, first discovered as a growth factor for yeast,1 has been established as a member of the vitamin B complex.2 The vitamin was recently identified3, 4 as N-(α,γ-dihydroxy-β, β-dimethyl-butyryl)-β'-alanine and has been synthesized.5In continuation of our studies of the toxicology of the vitamins of the B complex,6, 7 the following investigation of the toxicity of pantothenic acid was carried out on animals maintained on completely adequate diets. Synthetic dextrorotatory calcium panto-thenate was used in all experiments. Calcium pantothenate is readily water-soluble and almost neutral in reaction, the pH of a 10% solution being approximately 8.Local effects of calcium pantothenate were studied by instillation into the eye and by subcutaneous injection. Instillation of 0.5 cc of a 10% solution into the conjunctival sac of 3 rabbits did not produce any irritation. Likewise no irritation, inflammation or abscess formation was observed in 4 rabbits following the subcutaneous injection of 1.0 cc of a 10% solution. The infiltration of the subcutaneous tissues subsided about as rapidly as following a control injection of 10 cc of saline.Acute toxicity was studied in mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys. In mice and rats the L.D. 50 was determined following oral, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal and intravenous injection, 10 animals being used for each dose level. Table I summarizes the results obtained from a total of 180 mice and 110 rats.All 10 rats dosed with 10 g of calcium pantothenate per kg, when administered by mouth, survived without showing toxic symptoms. Lethal doses in mice and rats produced prostration and respiratory failure. Death occurred within one hour following intravenous or intraperitoneal injection and within 2 hours following oral or subcutaneous administration.