Effects of rifampicin and phenobarbital on the fate of isoniazid and hydrazine in vivo in rats

Studies on the Disposition and Metabolism of Hydrazine in Rats in vivo

1 Rats were given various doses of hydrazine orally and their plasma and liver hydrazine levels were determined (at various times up to 270 min after dosing) by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry.

2 The increase in the peak plasma level and in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) were not directly proportional to the dose.

3 The ratio of plasma to liver hydrazine varied with dose suggesting saturation of an uptake mechanism might be occurring.

4 In a separate experiment hydrazine was still detectable in the plasma and liver 24 h after dosing with hydrazine i.p.

5 Rats were given the same doses of hydrazine and urine was collected for 24 h after dosing and assayed for hydrazine and acetylhydrazine. The proportion of hydrazine and acetylhydrazine excreted declined with dose.

6 Liver samples were taken for histopathological examination 96 h after dosing. Only after the highest dose (81 mg kg-1) was there evidence of fatty liver, 96 h after a single dose, and a reduction in both liver and body weight.

Evidence on N-acetyltransferase allele-associated metabolism of hydrazine in Japanese workers

Hydrazine (N2H4), which has been categorized as a weak carcinogen, is a chemical with the one of the largest production rates in Japan. We have investigated the effects of acetylation phenotypes on the metabolism of hydrazine. Genotypes of N-acetyl transferases, NAT2*, were determined using polymerase chain reaction for 297 male workers. Biological and exposure monitoring were also conducted. The rapid and intermediate acetylators accounted for 45% each, and the slow acetylators accounted for 10%. Biological half-lives were significantly different among the three acetylation phenotypes (analysis of variance, P < 0.05): 3.94+/-1.70 hours for slow acetylators, 2.25+/-0.37 hours for intermediate acetylators, and 1.86+/-0.67 hours for rapid acetylators. Among Japanese, rapid and intermediate acetylators are the major phenotypes, which is in sharp contrast with those among Caucasians. We conclude that biological monitoring should take genetic factors, which may vary dramatically among different populations, into account.

Role of cytochrome P450 in hydrazine toxicity in isolated hepatocytes in vitro

1. Hepatocytes, isolated from the control, diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC), acetone, isoniazed and hydrazine pretreated rat, were incubated with hydrazine (8-20 mM) for 3 h. Hydrazine caused a dose-dependent loss of viability, leakage of LDH, depletion of GSH and ATP and an inhibition of the incorporation of 3H-leucine into protein. 2. Pretreatment with DEDC increased, whereas hydrazine and acetone pretreatments decreased the cytoxicity and biochemical effects of hydrazine. Pretreatment with isoniazid slightly increased hydrazine cytotoxicity. Acetone pretreatment reduced the inhibition of protein synthesis caused by hydrazine compared to the control. 3. 4-Nitrophenol hydroxylase activity (P4502E1) correlated with viability, LDH leakage, ATP and GSH depletion in cells from the control, DEDC, acetone and hydrazine pretreated rats. 4. The activities of PROD (P4502B1) and EROD (P4501A1/1A2) also correlated with the above parameters for all treatments. The results suggest that three isoenzymes may be involved in the detoxication of hydrazine. Protein synthesis inhibition did not correlate with the activities of any of the enzymes measured.

Hydrazine production in children receiving isoniazid for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis

OBJECTIVE

To study the generation of the hepatotoxin hydrazine in 32 malnourished children receiving isoniazid for the treatment of tuberculous meningitis.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This observational study was undertaken in the pediatric ward of a teaching hospital admitting children with advanced forms of tuberculous meningitis for treatment and management of complications.

METHODS

Thirty-two children (mean age 2.28 years) receiving isoniazid 20 mg/kg/d were studied. Plasma isoniazid, acetylisoniazid, and hydrazine concentrations were determined by an HPLC method. Fourteen children were studied at weekly intervals for the first month of treatment and again after six months of therapy; 18 additional children were studied on one or more occasions during the first month of treatment only.

RESULTS

The area under the curve for hydrazine two to five hours after the isoniazid dose correlated with the isoniazid elimination rate and with acetylisoniazid generation. Hydrazine production increased significantly during the first month of treatment, but decreased to approximate initial values at six months. No correlation was found between any clinical or biochemical indicator of liver dysfunction and hydrazine production.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydrazine is formed in significant concentrations during the metabolism of isoniazid in young children. However, additional factors such as preexisting liver damage (e.g., from viral hepatitis) may be necessary for it to reach its toxic potential.

Influence of inducers and inhibitors of cytochrome P450 on the hepatotoxicity of hydrazine in vivo

Hydrazine hepatotoxicity in vivo, as manifested by triglyceride accumulation, depletion of ATP and reduced glutathione (GSH) was shown to be dose related. The effect of pretreatment of rats with various inhibitors and inducers of cytochrome P450 on these dose-response relationships was investigated. Pretreatment with the inhibitor piperonyl butoxide increased triglyceride accumulation whereas pretreatment with the inducers phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) resulted in reduced triglyceride accumulation. Pretreatment with the inducers acetone and isoniazid also enhanced triglyceride accumulation. Only phenobarbital pretreatment also significantly reduced GSH and ATP depletion. A linear correlation was found between hepatic glutathione and ATP levels in non-pretreated animals given various doses of hydrazine. However, exponential relationships were found between hepatic triglycerides and both hepatic ATP and glutathione. The results suggest that i) the hepatotoxicity of hydrazine can be modulated by inducing or inhibiting particular isoenzymes of cytochrome P450, ii) ATP and GSH depletion may not be directly involved in the development of fatty liver.

Proton NMR spectroscopic studies on the metabolism and biochemical effects of hydrazine in vivo

The metabolism and disposition of hydrazine and its effects on endogenous metabolites has been studied in rats by the use of high resolution proton NMR spectroscopy of urine. Several metabolites of hydrazine were detected, notably acetyl- and diacetylhydrazine and a cyclised metabolite which results from a hydrazone formed from 2-oxoglutarate and hydrazine. Effects of hydrazine on endogenous metabolites in urine and plasma were also observed; notably a dose-related increase in urinary taurine, a dose-related increase in urinary and plasma lactate, increases in urinary alpha-alanine, beta-alanine, methylamine and a decrease in urinary 2-oxoglutarate. This study has indicated the utility of using high resolution proton NMR spectroscopy to analyse urine for both metabolites and endogenous compounds after exposure of animals to toxic substances.

Identification of novel hydrazine metabolites by 15N-NMR

15N-NMR has been used to study the metabolism of hydrazine in rats in vivo. Single doses of [15N2]hydrazine (2.0 mmol/kg: 98.6% g atom) were administered to rats and urine collected for 24 hr over ice. A number of metabolites were detected by 15N-NMR analysis of lyophilized urine. Ammonia was detected as a singlet at 0 ppm and unchanged [15N2]hydrazine was present in the urine detectable as a singlet at 32 ppm. Peaks were observed at 107 and 110 ppm which were identified as being due to the hydrazido nitrogen of acetylhydrazine and diacetylhydrazine, respectively. A resonance at 85 ppm was ascribed to carbazic acid, resulting from reaction of hydrazine with carbon dioxide. A singlet detected at 316 ppm was thought to be due to the hydrazono nitrogen of the pyruvate hydrazone. The resonance at 56 ppm was assigned to 15N-enriched urea, this together with the presence of ammonia indicates that the N-N bond of hydrazine is cleaved in vivo, possibly by N-oxidation, and the resultant ammonia is incorporated into urea. A doublet centred at 150 ppm and a singlet at 294 ppm were assigned to a metabolite which results from cyclization of the 2-oxoglutarate hydrazone. Therefore 15N-NMR spectroscopic analysis of urine has yielded significant new information on the metabolism of hydrazine.

Hydrazine radical formation catalyzed by rat microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase

Using NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase purified from rat liver microsomes, the oxidation of hydrazine to its radical was proved to proceed smoothly. The catalytic effect of NADPH cytochrome P-450 on the radical formation in the hepatic microsomes obtained from phenobarbital-pretreated rats was also supported by the fact that Hz radical formation was stimulated by flavin adenin dinucleotide or methyl viologen and markedly inhibited by superoxide dismutase, however, carbon monoxide showed no effect. Expectedly, anti-NADPH-cytochrome P-450 IgG decreased the radical formation. The present study provides the first evidence for the NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase catalyzed oxidation of hydrazine to its radical in the presence of O2 and NADPH.

Relationship between oxidative metabolites of hydrazine and hydrazine-induced mutagenicity

Hydrazine (Hz) mutagenicity was observed in a test using Escherichia coli B/r strain, WP2 uvrA and was enhanced by the addition of rat liver microsomal fraction containing a generating system, while the enhanced mutagenicity was diminished by the addition of metyrapone to the microsome-free levels. On the other hand, an NADPH-dependent difference spectrum of the metabolic intermediate of Hz-complex, characterized by a maximum level of 448 nm, was also inhibited by metyrapone. The results show that the oxidative intermediates, which are diimide and its precursor, hydrazine free radical [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 133 (1986) 1086], are responsible not only for hepatotoxicity but also for the enhancement of genotoxicity or mutagenicity.