The importance of ammonia in the metabolic effects of hydrazine.

Acute exposure to hydrazine (N2H4), Mol. Wt.: 32.05, an importance liquid rocket propellant and parent compound of useful pharmaceutical agents such as isoniazid and hydralazine and other chemical compounds, produces severe central nervous system effects, such as coma and convulsions sometimes resulting in death. Heretofore, treatment has been symptomatic, e.g. quick-acting barbiturates for convulsions. The results of this study emphasize the importance of acute ammonia intoxication as a major component of the metabolic effects of hydrazine. Further, the results support the theory of competitive inhibition of ammonia by hydrazine (3).