Experimental methanol toxicity in the primate: Analysis of metabolic acidosis

Of these animals, only the pigtail monkey reliably developed a severe metabolic organic acidosis resembling that observed in humans, and systemic formate concentrations remained low in rats and monkeys which failed to become acidotic following methanol administration.

Abstract

Methanol was administered to rats, rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), and pigtail monkeys (Macaca nemestrina). Of these animals, only the pigtail monkey reliably developed a severe metabolic organic acidosis resembling that observed in humans. Blood and urine specimens drawn from methanol-treated pigtail monkeys were analyzed for organic acid content by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and specific assays were performed for formate. The anion gap resulting during methanol acidosis was accounted for in full by increased blood concentrations of formate. Systemic formate concentrations remained low in rats and monkeys which failed to become acidotic following methanol administration.