After single i.v. administration of trans-dihydroxy-cis-dichlorodiammine-platinum(IV), the LD50 values have been calculated to range between 80 and 130 mg/kg in mice, and between 22 and 45 mg/kg in rats.

The DNA binding/capture studies were done in a total volume of 20 μL containing 38.5 μM (bp) pBR322 DNA (New EnglandBioLabs Inc.), in 12 mM HEPES, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonicacid (pH 7.4) buffer or, when sodium bicarbonate was present, in 12 mM HEPES buffer plus 12 mM sodium bicarbonate (pH 7.4). The two reducing agents used were glutathione (GSH, 2 mM) and ascorbic acid (AsA, 50 μM). Stock solutions of the platinum compound Diamminedichlorodihydroxyplatinum IV in distilled water was in the range of 40–650 μM. Appropriate volumes of the stock solutions were added to solutions containing the buffer and DNA to give the final concentrations given earlier and values of r, where r=[platinum compound]/[DNA-bp], given in the captions to figures. The samples were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h in sealed Eppendorf tubes after which time 2.5 μL of a loading dye containing 50% glycerol, 0.25% bromophenol blue and 0.25% xylene cyanol was added. An 8 μL volume of each sample containing the loading dye was loaded in the wells of a 1% agarose gel. Electrophoresis was carried out for a period of ~4 h, at 100 V. After electrophoresis, the gel was immersed in 300 mL of deionized water containing 300 μL of a 0.5 mg/mL solution of ethidium bromide for 30 min to stain the DNA, and then soaked in water alone for 15 min to de-stain the background of the gel. A digital image of the stained gel was captured using a Kodak Gel Logic 100 imaging system equipped with Fisher Biotech IT-88A transilluminator.