Dose-response relationships in 1,3-butanediol-induced potentiation of carbon tetrachloride toxicity

Chlorinated methanes and liver injury: highlights of the past 50 years

The chlorinated methanes, particularly carbon tetrachloride and chloroform, are classic models of liver injury and have developed into important experimental hepatoxicants over the past 50 years. Hepatocellular steatosis and necrosis are features of the acute lesion. Mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum as target sites are discussed. The sympathetic nervous system, hepatic hemodynamic alterations, and role of free radicals and biotransformation are considered. With carbon tetrachloride, lipid peroxidation and covalent binding to hepatic constituents have been dominant themes over the years. Potentiation of chlorinated methane-induced liver injury by alcohols, aliphatic ketones, ketogenic compounds, and the pesticide chlordecone is discussed. A search for explanations for the potentiation phenomenon has led to the discovery of the role of tissue repair in the overall outcome of liver injury. Some final thoughts about future research are also presented.

Toxicokinetics of organic solvents: a review of modifying factors

This article reviews, with an emphasis on human experimental data, factors known or suspected to cause changes in the toxicokinetics of organic solvents. Such changes in the toxicokinetic pattern alters the relation between external exposure and target dose and thus may explain some of the observed individual variability in susceptibility to toxic effects. Factors shown to modify the uptake, distribution, biotransformation, or excretion of solvent include physical activity (work load), body composition, age, sex, genetic polymorphism of the biotransformation, ethnicity, diet, smoking, drug treatment, and coexposure to ethanol and other solvents. A better understanding of modifying factors is needed for several reasons. First, it may help in identifying important potential confounders and eliminating negligible ones. Second, the risk assessment process may be improved if different sources of variability between external exposures and target doses can be quantitatively assessed. Third, biological exposure monitoring may be also improved for the same reason.

Ketone potentiation of haloalkane-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity. II. Implication of monooxygenases

Previous results in Sprague-Dawley rats indicate that acetone (A), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and methyl isobutyl ketone (MiBK) pretreatment (3 d, po) at dosages of 6.8 and 13.6 mmol/kg potentiate CCl4 hepatotoxicity and CHCl3 nephrotoxicity, respectively. The potentiation potency profile observed was MiBK > A > MEK for liver and A > MEK > or = MiBK for kidney toxicity (Raymond & Plaa, 1995). In the present study, hepatic and renal microsomes from A-, MEK-, and MiBK-pretreated rats (6.8 or 13.6 mmol/kg) were examined for cytochrome P-450 content, substrate-specific monooxygenase activity (aminopyrine and benzphetamine N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase) and in vitro covalent binding of 14CHCl3 and 14CCl4. Of the three ketones, only MiBK significantly increased P-450 content of liver and renal cortical microsomes. Similarly, 14CCl4 covalent binding under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was significantly increased by MiBK pretreatment only. 14CHCl3 covalent binding by renal cortical microsomes was significantly increased only under aerobic conditions by MiBK pretreatment. MiBK (13.6 mmol/kg) increased (threefold) aminopyrine N-demethylation in both liver and kidney, but only benzphetamine N-demethylation (two-fold, at 6.8 and 13.6 mmol/kg) in liver; A and MEK had no effect on either monooxygenase. All ketones at dosages of 6.8 and 13.6 mmol/kg increased aniline hydroxylation in liver (two-fold) and kidney (fivefold). Comparable profiles for P-450 induction, haloalkane covalent binding, and aminopyrine or benzphetamine N-demethylase activity were observed in liver and kidney microsomes. This profile was consistent with the ketone potentiation potency ranking profile observed in vivo for liver but not kidney injury. These findings affirm the importance of ketone-enhanced bioactivation for potentiation of CCl4 hepatotoxicity but suggest an alternative mechanism for CHCl3 nephrotoxicity.

Effect of 1,3-butanediol on rat liver microsomal NDMA demethylation and other monooxygenase activities

The administration of 1,3-butanediol (BD) previously has been shown to elevate blood concentrations of ketone bodies, to potentiate carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, and to increase the hepatic microsomal content of cytochrome P450 and the activity of aniline hydroxylase. In the present study, oral treatment (10 g/kg) with racemic BD and each of its enantiomers (R-BD and S-BD) induced NDMA demethylase activity by approx. 1.5-fold in rat hepatic microsomes obtained 12 h later, suggesting an induction of P450IIE1, the acetone/ethanol-inducible form of P450. The results agreed with an immunochemically determined increase in the levels of this isozyme. No change in P450 content, NADPH-cytochrome-c reductase, or in pentoxyresorufin dealkylase activity were detected. Blood levels of acetone were determined during a 10-h period after BD administration and showed a higher initial rate of increase by R-BD, possibly due to steroselective metabolic oxidative metabolism. However, no difference in the induction of NDMA demethylase activity by the enantiomers could be detected. Induction of P450IIE1 probably contributes to the previously described potentiation of haloalkane-induced hepatotoxicity by BD administration.

Potentiation of CCl4-induced liver injury by ketonic and ketogenic compounds: role of the CCl4 dose

Potentiation of haloalkane hepatotoxicity by ketones and ketogenic agents is a well-known phenomenon. The importance of the CCl4 dosage in these combinations, however, has not been explored. Its influence was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Dose-effect curves for potentiation were generated using 1,3-butanediol, methyl n-butyl ketone or methyl isobutyl ketone as potentiation agents. Animals were orally treated with these compounds prior to a challenge of CCl4 (0 to 0.5 ml/kg, ip). Liver injury was assessed by monitoring plasma ALT activity and bilirubin concentrations after CCl4 treatment. The minimal effective dosage (MED) for each potentiator was used as the criterion of comparison for each combination. The MED values were determined from the plasma ALT data. Results showed that when the CCl4 dosage was increased from 0.01 to 0.10 ml/kg, the MED of each potentiator decreased 10-fold. For a given potentiator, the product of the CCl4 dosage (H, "hepatotoxicant") by the corresponding MED value (P, "potentiator") remained the same in this range of CCL4 dosages. The severity of the liver injury was similar. These findings suggest that a given level of liver injury induced by a ketone/haloalkane combination could be evaluated on the basis of the [P X H] product.

1,3-Butanediol-induced increases in ketone bodies and potentiation of CCl4 hepatotoxicity

Evidence previously reported suggest that 1,3-butanediol (BD) enhances the hepatotoxic effect of a single small dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in a dose-related manner. The present study provides additional information concerning the quantitative relationship between the severity of the ketotic state produced by BD and the magnitude of the potentiation observed and emphasizes the use of ketone bodies (KB) to predict the potential hazard of the BD-CCl4 interaction. Liver damage was modulated in male Sprague-Dawley rats by varying the concentration of the BD solutions ingested prior to a CCl4 challenge (0.1 ml/kg, i.p.). These data were compared to ketone bodies in plasma, hepatic tissue and urine. BD produced a dose-dependent metabolic ketosis observable at dosages between 1.1 and 9.9 g/kg per day given for 7 days. Plasma and liver data correlated well together. Concomitantly, potentiation of the CCl4-induced liver injury was also dose-related for the same dosage range; the minimum effective dosage of BD for potentiation was estimated as 1.1 g/kg per day. The linear correlations between hepatic or plasma KB values and the indices of hepatic dysfunction (ALT, OCT) were highly significant. Using a semiquantitative method, a correlation was also found for the urinary KB data. These results suggest that plasma KB concentrations might be useful for predicting possible potentiation of the hepatonecrotic effect of CCl4 by BD.

Renal and hepatic interactions between 2-hexanone and carbon tetrachloride in F-344 rats

Fisher-344 rats were pretreated with 2-hexanone (HX) and challenged with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in a replicated 3 X 4 factorial experiment to determine if HX potentiated CCL4-induced renal and hepatic damage. Rats given both HX and CCl4 demonstrated more severe hepatic injury at 24 and 48 h than did controls. However, in contrast to our experience with chloroform (CHCl3), CCl4-induced renal injury in HX-pretreated rats was only slightly greater than in vehicle-pretreated controls.

Taurolithocholate-induced intrahepatic cholestasis: potentiation by methyl isobutyl ketone and methyl n-butyl ketone in rats

Haloalkane-induced hepatonecrogenesis can be potentiated by the prior administration of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and methyl n-butyl ketone (MBK). We investigated the possibility that these ketones could potentiate the cholestasis induced by taurolithocholate (TLC) in rats. Daily ketone pretreatment for 3 or 7 days resulted in an enhancement of the diminution in bile flow observed after TLC challenge. When the ketones were administered without TLC challenge, cholestasis was not observed; in fact, slight increases in bile flow did occur. The data suggest that MIBK may be more effective than MBK as a potentiator. Preliminary experiments with 2,5-hexanedione (HD), a metabolite of MBK and a potent potentiator of haloalkane hepatonecrosis, were included in the study. HD appeared to be a less potent potentiator of TLC-induced cholestasis. Although some ketones can potentiate cholestatic as well as hepatonecrogenic reactions, different mechanisms of action appear to be involved in these two phenomena.

A semiquantitative morphologic assessment of chlordecone-potentiated chloroform hepatotoxicity

A semiquantitative morphologic procedure has been applied to chlordecone potentiation of CHCl3-induced liver injury in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The distance of the injured area from the terminal hepatic venule (THV) to the portal area was measured and the damaged cells were classified by type. The results were plotted graphically, along with elevations in plasma enzyme activities (GPT and OCT), to depict the pattern of damage. Chlordecone pretreatment enhanced the severity of the CHCl3-induced cellular changes and increased the number of cells affected. Dosages of 5 mg/kg of chlordecone did not potentiate CHCl3 toxicity, but higher dosages (10-50 mg/kg) enhanced the toxic response in a dose-dependent manner.

Potentiation of thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity in alloxan- and streptozotocin-diabetic rats

Thioacetamide-induced hepatoxicity was potentiated in male Sprague-Dawley rats rendered diabetic by alloxan or streptozotocin. The response was more striking in alloxan-diabetic rats. Insulin administration prevented the potentiation following alloxan pretreatment. Fasting also resulted in an enhanced hepatotoxic response to thioacetamide, but the increase was much less than that observed in rats given the diabetogenic agents. The ketosis produced by alloxan was more severe than that induced by streptozotocin, but was unlike that caused by fasting. Pretreatment with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or 3,4-benzpyrene did not enhance thioacetamide liver injury.