Effects of trichloroethylene and its metabolites on rodent hepatocyte intercellular communication

Chronic exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) results in hepatocellular cancer in mice but not rats. The induction of hepatic tumors by TCE appears to be mediated through nongenotoxic or tumor promotion mechanisms. One cellular effect exhibited by a number of nongenotoxic carcinogens and tumor promoters is the inhibition of gap junction mediated intercellular communication. In the present study, the effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) and its metabolites, trichloracetic acid (TCA), trichloroethanol (TCEth), and chloral hydrate (CH) on gap junction mediated intercellular communication in cultured B6C3F1 mouse and F344 rat hepatocytes were assessed. TCE and TCA inhibited intercellular communication in mouse hepatocytes but not in rat hepatocytes. TCEth and CH had no effect on hepatocyte intercellular communication in either rat or mouse cells. TCE and TCA inhibited intercellular communication in both 24-hr-old and freshly plated mouse hepatocytes. Both compounds produced greater inhibition of intercellular communication in freshly plated cells when compared to 24-hr-old cultures. TCE appeared to require cytochrome P450 metabolism by the mouse hepatocytes to exhibit its inhibitory effect on dye coupling since treatment with SKF-525A prevented the inhibition of intercellular communication by TCE. The inhibitory effect of TCA on intercellular communication was unaffected by treatment with SKF-525A. While the species dependent effect of TCE on intercellular communication may be correlated with different rates and extent of metabolism of TCE by rat and mouse hepatocytes, the inhibiting effect of TCA only on mouse hepatocytes suggests that other intrinsic factors in the male mouse make this species more susceptible to the effects of TCE and TCA on gap junction mediated intercellular communication. These findings may account, in part, for the observed species difference in susceptibility to TCE induced liver carcinogenesis.     

The metabolite ratio as a function of chloral hydrate dose and intracellular redox state in the perfused rat liver

Chloral hydrate (CH), an intermediate metabolite of trichloroethylene, is reduced to trichloroethanol (TCE) by alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde reductase, and is also oxidized to trichloroacetic acid (TCA) by the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent enzyme, CH dehydrogenase. Alcohol dehydrogenase requires reduced NAD (NADH), aldehyde reductase requires reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and CH dehydrogenase requires NAD to complete the reaction. It is unclear which reaction is predominant at the physiological redox level in intact liver cells. To study this question, we perfused the livers of well-fed rats with Krebs-Ringer buffer solution containing 0.1 mM pyruvate/1.0 mM lactate. The levels of TCE and TCA in the effluent were measured by gas chromatography, and the fluorescence of reduced pyridine nucleotides was measured with a surface fluorometer. When a low concentration (below 0.25 mM) of CH was administered, more TCA than TCE was produced. When a high concentration of CH was administered (over 0.5 mM), TCE production was greater. Reduced pyridine nucleotides decreased inversely with the CH concentration. Even at low CH concentrations, pyridine nucleotides were not reduced. When 10 mM lactate was added to the perfusate in order to reduce the pyridine nucleotides in the liver cells, the TCE/TCA ratio increased. On the other hand, the TCE/TCA ratio tended to fall following the addition of 5.0 mM pyruvate. In conclusion, the TCE/TCA ratio was altered according to the concentration of CH, and to the redox level of pyridine nucleotides in the liver.     

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of 10 chemicals in human and rat hepatocytes and in cell lines: Correlation between in vitro data and human lethal concentration

The cytotoxicity of 10 chemicals from the Multicentre Evaluation of In vitro Cytotoxicity (MEIC) list (nos 21–30) was evaluated in human and rat cultured hepatocytes and in two established cell lines (HepG2 and 3T3) according to the MEIC programme organized by the Scandinavian Society of Cell Toxicology. The MTT test was used as the endpoint of cytotoxicity after 24hr of exposure to the chemicals. Theophylline, phenobarbital and paraquat were the least cytotoxic compounds in the cellular systems (IC₅₀ = 450-17,000 μm) except for the 3T3 cells. The seven remaining chemicals (dextropropoxyphene, propranolol, arsenic trioxide, cupric sulfate, mercuric chloride, thioridazine and thallium sulfate) showed a similar relative cytotoxic ranking in the four in vitro systems in the lower range of concentrations (IC₅₀ = 2–350 μm). The data suggest that these 10 chemicals have a basal cytotoxic effect common to the four in vitro systems, and probably none of these compounds could be considered either hepatotoxic or species specific. The correlation between in vitro data and human lethal blood concentrations showed that the predictability of the in vitro systems was similar to that of in vivo rodent tests (LD₅₀) only when low cytotoxic concentrations (IC₁₀) were used for correlation.     

Food preservatives sodium sulfite and sorbic acid suppress mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Antioxidant preservatives prolong the quality of food and ensure the nutritional adequacy, palatability and safety of many processed foods and beverages. Effects of sodium sulfite (E221) and sorbic acid (E200) were investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) which were purified from blood of healthy donors. Cells were stimulated with the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin in vitro, which induces proliferation of T-cells and the production of Th1-type cytokines like interferon-γ. The latter triggers enzyme indoleamine (2,3)-dioxygenase, which degrades tryptophan, and GTP cyclohydrolase I, which leads to increased neopterin production, in monocyte-derived macrophages. Sodium sulfite and sorbic acid suppressed both these biochemical changes in a dose-dependent way (P < 0.01 at 1 mM sodium sulfite and 50 mM sorbic acid). Data demonstrate a suppressive influence of sodium sulfite and sorbic acid on the activated Th1-type immune response.     

Metabolism of chloral hydrate in the anoxic perfused liver

The metabolism of chloral hydrate (CH) under anoxic conditions was investigated in the non-recirculating, hemoglobin-free liver perfusion system. CH uptake in the anoxic liver decreased to about 80% of that in the oxygen-supplied liver. The reduction of CH to trichloroethanol (TCE) increased and the oxidation of CH to trichloroacetic acid (TCA) decreased. The TCE/TCA ratio increased; however, the total trichloro compounds, that is TCE and TCA, were not significantly altered by anoxia. Though approximate 14% of the CH infused into the oxygen-supplied liver was changed to substances other than TCE or TCA, the unknown part was a very small portion in the anoxic liver. The decrease in CH uptake, by the anoxic liver, is thought to be equivalent to the decrease of the unknown metabolites. The TCE/TCA ratio under anoxia was also altered by pyruvate or lactate infusion.     

The metabolism of trichloroethylene and its metabolites in the perfused liver

The metabolism of trichloroethylene (TRI) and its metabolites, chloral hydrate (CH), trichloroethanol (free-TCE) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), were examined in the isolated perfused rat liver, to clarify the role of the liver in the metabolism of TRI. TRI was rapidly converted to TCE and TCA by the perfused liver. TCA was produced from TRI about 2.5 times greater than was total-TCE. CH was metabolized to TCE and TCA immediately. TCA was also a dominant metabolite of CH over total-TCE. TCE(free type) was speedily conjugated by the liver. A portion of TCE was converted to TCA. Less than 10% of these metabolites produced by the liver were excreted into the bile. Most of them appeared in the perfusate.     

Alteration of dopamine uptake into rat striatal vesicles and synaptosomes caused by an in vitro exposure to atrazine and some of its metabolites

Studies have shown that both in vivo and in vitro exposure to the herbicide atrazine (ATR) results in dopaminergic neurotoxicity manifested by decreased striatal dopamine (DA) levels. However, the mechanism behind this reduction is largely unknown. A decrease in striatal DA could be due to ATR exposure affecting vesicular and/or synaptosomal uptake resulting in disrupted vesicular storage and/or cellular uptake of DA. Hence, we investigated the effects of in vitro ATR exposure on DA uptake into isolated rat striatal synaptosomes and synaptic vesicles. In addition to ATR, effects of its major mammalian metabolites, didealkyl atrazine (DACT), desethyl atrazine (DE) and desiopropyl atrazine (DIP) were investigated. ATR (1–250 μM) inhibited DA uptake into synaptic vesicles in a dose-dependent manner. Of the three ATR metabolites tested, DACT did not affect vesicular DA uptake. DE and DIP, on the other hand, significantly decreased vesicular DA uptake with the effect of 100 μM DE/DIP being similar to the effect of the same concentration of ATR. Kinetic analysis of vesicular DA uptake indicated that ATR significantly decreased the V_max while the K_m value was not affected. Contrary to the inhibitory effects on vesicular DA uptake, synaptosomal DA uptake was marginally (6–13%) increased by ATR and DE, but not by DACT and DIP, at concentrations of ≤100 μM. As a result, ATR, DIP and DE increased the synaptosomal/vesicular (DAT/VMAT-2) uptake ratio. Collectively, results from this study suggest that ATR and two of its metabolites, DIP and DE, but not its major mammalian metabolite, DACT, decrease striatal DA levels, at least in part, by increasing cytosolic DA, which is prone to oxidative breakdown.     

EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON THE METABOLISM OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE IN THE PERFUSED RAT LIVER

The effect of 2 m M ethanol, a concentration indicative of daily alcohol consumption, was investigated on trichloroethylene (TRI) metabolism in perfused Wistar rat liver. The study consisted of two parts: The first part studied TRI administration with or without ethanol. In the second study chloral hydrate (CH), an intermediate in TRI metabolism, was administered in the absence or presence of ethanol to phenobarbital (PB) treated or non-PB-treated rats. The concentrations of the metabolites, total trichloroethanol (TCE), and trichloroacetic acid (TCA) were measured by gas chromatography and intracellular reduced pyridine nucleotides by surface fluorometry. In the first study, ethanol infusion significantly increased the TCE/TCA ratio, TCE production rate, and percentage of reduced pyridine nucleotides, and decreased TCA production rate without an associated change in the sum of TCE and TCA formation rates. In the second study, ethanol infusion in the absence or presence of PB produced similar significant increases in the TCE/TCA ratio, TCE production rate, and percentage of reduced pyridine nucleotides, accompanied by a decrease in TCA formation. The observed shift in TRI metabolism in the presence of ethanol, from oxidation to TCA to reduction to TCE, suggests that alcohol exerts alterations in hepatic intracellular oxidation-reduction (redox) states.     

Influence of dichlorodiphenylchloroethylene on vascular endothelial growth factor and insulin-like growth factor in human and rat ovarian cells

1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p′-DDE, DDE), a metabolite of DDT is a persistent hormonally active environmental toxicant present in human serum and follicular fluid. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of DDE on the expression of the ovarian vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in primary cultures of human granulosa cells and in the rat ovary. Granulosa cells were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization and cultured with environmentally relevant concentrations of DDE. Immature female rats were treated with 100 μg DDE/kg body weight or vehicle at 28 and 31 days of age and then euthanized at 50 days of age for collection of ovarian tissue. Expression of VEGF, the VEGF receptor fetal liver kinase (Flk-1) and IGF-1 were determined by Western blotting analysis of protein lysates from granulosa cell cultures and by immunohistochemistry in the rat ovary. DDE at concentrations of 100–1000 ng/mL increased the expression of VEGF, Flk-1 and IGF-1 in vitro in primary cultures of human granulosa cells, with the highest expression occurring at 1000 ng/mL. Similarly, acute administration of DDE resulted in a significant increase in immunoreactive VEGF, Flk-1 and IGF-1 in the rat ovary. We conclude that DDE, at levels, which have been detected in humans, alters the expression of the ovarian growth factors VEGF and IGF-1 both in vivo and in vitro. This alteration in expression of growth factors may lead to altered ovarian function as seen in polycystic ovaries and impaired fertility.     

In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Mono-, Di-, and Trichioroacetate and Its Modulation by Hepatic Peroxisome Proliferation

Dichloroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) are major by-productsof drinking water chlorination. Recent experiments have shownthat both of these compounds produce hepatic tumors in B6C3FImice. There was evidence that these effects may be associatedwith cytotoxic effects and/or peroxisomal proliferation. Therefore,in the present study the in vitro cytotoxicity of monochloroacetate(MCA), DCA, TCA and a metabolite, glycolate (GLY), was determinedin hepatocyte suspensions prepared from naive and clofibricacid-pretreated male Sprague-Dawley rats and B6C3F1 mice. Cytotoxicresponses, measured by release of lactic dehydrogenase and/ortrypan blue exclusion, were only observed with high concentrations(5.0 mM) of MCA and GLY in hepatocytes from naive animals (p=0.025and 0.008, respectively, Sprague-Dawley rat; p=0.033 and 0.001,respectively, B6C3F1 mouse). The cytotoxic responses to bothcompounds were observed much earlier and at much lower concentrationsin hepatocytes taken from mice and rats that had been pretreatedwith clofibric acid (p0.001, Sprague-Dawley rat and B6C3F1 mouse).DCA and TCA produced no evidence of cytotoxicity in hepatocytesfrom naive or clofibric acid-pretreated animals of either speciesat concentrations up to 5.0 mM. Increasing concentrations ofMCA and GLY resulted in dose-related depletion of intracellularreduced glutathione (GSH) that closely paralleled the cytotoxicresponses. Only GLY (0.25–5.0 mM) produced increased intracellularoxidized glutathione. Neither DCA nor TCA was found to altercellular GSH status in hepatocytes isolated from either Sprague-Dawleyrats or B6C3F1 mice. It was concluded from these in vitro observationsthat DCA and TCA are not highly cytotoxic to hepatocytes. Moreover,the rates of their conversion to MCA or GLY may be insufficientto induce cytotoxic effects in hepatocytes in vivo.     

Effect of enterohepatic circulation on the pharmacokinetics of chloral hydrate and its metabolites in F344 rats.

Chloral hydrate (CH) is a commonly found disinfection by-product in water purification, a metabolite of trichloroethylene, and a sedative/hypnotic drug. CH and two of its reported metabolites, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and dichloroacetic acid (DCA), are hepatocarcinogenic in mice. Another metabolite of CH, trichloroethanol (TCE), is also metabolized into TCA, and the enterohepatic circulation (EHC) of TCE maintains a pool of metabolite for the eventual production of TCA. To gain insight on the effects of EHC on the kinetics of CH and on the formation of TCA and DCA, dual cannulated F344 rats were infused with 12, 48, or 192 mg/kg of CH and the blood, bile, urine, and feces were collected over a 48-h period. CH was cleared rapidly (>3000 ml/h/kg) and displayed biphasic elimination kinetics, with the first phase being elimination of the dose and the second phase exhibiting formation rate-limited kinetics relative to its TCE metabolite. The effects of EHC on metabolite kinetics were only significant at the highest dose, resulting in a 44% and 17% decrease in the area under the curve (AUC) of TCA and TCE, respectively. The renal clearance of CH, free TCE (f-TCE), and TCA of 2, 2.7, and 38 ml/h/kg, respectively, indicates an efficient reabsorption mechanism for all of these small chlorinated compounds. DCA was detected at only trace levels (<2 microM) as a metabolite of CH, TCA, or TCE.     

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of the lactating rat and nursing pup: a multiroute exposure model for trichloroethylene and its metabolite, trichloroacetic acid

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PB-PK) model was developed to describe trichloroethylene (TCE) kinetics in the lactating rat and nursing pup. The lactating dam was exposed to TCE either by inhalation or by ingestion in drinking water. The nursing pup's exposure to TCE was by ingestion of maternal milk containing TCE. The kinetics of trichloroacetic acid (TCA), a metabolite of TCE, were described in the lactating dam and developing pup by a hybrid one-compartment model. The lactating dam's exposure to TCA was from metabolism of TCE to TCA. The pup's exposure to TCA was from metabolism of TCE ingested in suckled milk and from direct ingestion of TCA in maternal milk. For the PB-PK model, partition coefficients (PCs) were determined by vial equilibration, and metabolic constants for TCE oxidation, by gas uptake methods. The blood/air and the fat/blood PCs for the dam were 13.1 and 34.2, and for the pup, 10.6 and 42.3, respectively. The milk/blood PC for the dam was 7.1. In lactating rats and rat pups (19-21 days old) the maximum velocities of oxidative metabolism were 9.26 +/- 0.073 and 12.94 +/- 0.107 mg/kg/hr. The plasma elimination rate constant (K = 0.063 +/- 0.004 hr-1) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd = 0.568 liter/kg) for TCA in the lactating dam were estimated from both intravenous dosing studies and an inhalation study with TCE. For the pup, K (0.014 +/- hr-1) and Vd (0.511 liter/kg) were estimated from a single 4-hr inhalation exposure with TCE. The dose-rate-dependent stoichiometric yield of TCA from oxidative metabolism of TCE in the lactating rat is 0.17 for a low-concentration inhalation exposure (27 ppm TCE) and 0.27 for an exposure above metabolic saturation (about 600 ppm TCE). For the pup, the stoichiometric yield of TCA is 0.12. With changing physiological values during lactation for compartmental volumes, blood flows, and milk yields obtained from the published literature and kinetic parameters and PCs determined by experimentation, a PB-PK model was constructed to predict maternal and pup concentrations of TCE and TCA. To test the fidelity of the PB-PK lactation model, a multiday inhalation exposure study was conducted from Days 3 to 14 of lactation and a drinking water study, from Days 3 to 21 of lactation. The inhalation exposure was 4 hr/day, 5 days/week, at 610 ppm. The TCE concentration in the drinking water was 333 micrograms/ml. Prediction compared favorably with limited data obtained at restricted time points during the period of lactation.     

In vitro effects of folate derivatives on valproate-induced neural tube defects in mouse and rat embryos

The anticonvulsant drug valproic acid (VPA), produces neural tube defects in mouse and rat embryos treated in vivo or in vitro. The mechanism for the drug's embryotoxic effect is unknown, but 5-formyltetrahydrofolate has been reported to decrease the incidence of VPA-induced neural tube defects in mice treated in vivo. In the present study we have examined the ability of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and folic acid to protect against VPA-induced neural tube defects in CD-1 mouse or CD rat embryos grown in a whole embryo culture system. Mouse embryos with 2–5 somite pairs were cultured for 48 hr beginning on gestation day 8; presomite stage rat embryos were cultured beginning on gestation day 9 (for both species gestation day 0 was taken as the day a vaginal sperm plug was found). VPA at 1.2 m (rats) or 1.8 m (mice) produced a high incidence of open neural tubes. None of the folate derivatives in concentrations up to 100 μg/ml was able to decrease the incidence of VPA-induced defects in either species. These data suggest that folate is not involved in the mechanism of VPA-induced neural tube defects.     

Integration of in vivo and in vitro approaches to characterize the toxicity of Antalarmin, a corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist

Non-clinical studies were conducted to evaluate the toxicity of Antalarmin, a corticotropin-releasing hormone type 1 receptor antagonist being developed for therapy of stress-related pathologies. Antalarmin was not genotoxic in bacterial mutagenesis assays, mammalian cell mutagenesis assays, or in vivo DNA damage assays. In a 14-day range-finding study in rats, Antalarmin doses ≥500 mg/kg/day (3000 mg/m²/day) induced mortality. In a 90-day toxicity study in rats, no gross toxicity was seen at doses of 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg/day (180, 600, or 1800 mg/m²/day, respectively). Antalarmin (300 mg/kg/day) induced mild anemia, increases in serum γ-glutamyl transferase activity, and microscopic hepatic pathology (bile duct hyperplasia and epithelial necrosis, periportal inflammation). Microscopic renal changes (cortical necrosis, inflammation, hypertrophy, nephropathy) were observed in rats at all Antalarmin doses. In a 14-day range-finding study in dogs, Antalarmin doses ≥50 mg/kg/day (1000 mg/m²/day) induced repeated emesis and bone marrow suppression. In a 90-day toxicity study in dogs, Antalarmin (4, 8, or 16 mg/kg/day (80, 160, or 320 mg/m²/day, respectively)) induced bone marrow and lymphoid depletion, but no gross toxicity. Comparative in vitro studies using rat, dog, and human neutrophil progenitors demonstrated that canine bone marrow cells are highly sensitive to Antalarmin cytotoxicity, while rat and human bone marrow cells are relatively insensitive. As such, the bone marrow toxicity observed in dogs is considered likely to over-predict Antalarmin toxicity in humans. The hepatic and renal toxicities seen in rats exposed to Antalarmin identify those tissues as the most likely targets for Antalarmin toxicity in humans.     

Pharmacokinetic analysis of trichloroethylene metabolism in male B6C3F1 mice: Formation and disposition of trichloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)glutathione and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-l-cysteine

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a well-known carcinogen in rodents and concerns exist regarding its potential carcinogenicity in humans. Oxidative metabolites of TCE, such as dichloroacetic acid (DCA) and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), are thought to be hepatotoxic and carcinogenic in mice. The reactive products of glutathione conjugation, such as S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-l-cysteine (DCVC), and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl) glutathione (DCVG), are associated with renal toxicity in rats. Recently, we developed a new analytical method for simultaneous assessment of these TCE metabolites in small-volume biological samples. Since important gaps remain in our understanding of the pharmacokinetics of TCE and its metabolites, we studied a time-course of DCA, TCA, DCVG and DCVG formation and elimination after a single oral dose of 2100 mg/kg TCE in male B6C3F1 mice. Based on systemic concentration-time data, we constructed multi-compartment models to explore the kinetic properties of the formation and disposition of TCE metabolites, as well as the source of DCA formation. We conclude that TCE-oxide is the most likely source of DCA. According to the best-fit model, bioavailability of oral TCE was ∼ 74%, and the half-life and clearance of each metabolite in the mouse were as follows: DCA: 0.6 h, 0.081 ml/h; TCA: 12 h, 3.80 ml/h; DCVG: 1.4 h, 16.8 ml/h; DCVC: 1.2 h, 176 ml/h. In B6C3F1 mice, oxidative metabolites are formed in much greater quantities (∼ 3600 fold difference) than glutathione-conjugative metabolites. In addition, DCA is produced to a very limited extent relative to TCA, while most of DCVG is converted into DCVC. These pharmacokinetic studies provide insight into the kinetic properties of four key biomarkers of TCE toxicity in the mouse, representing novel information that can be used in risk assessment.     

Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether and the metabolite, 2-methoxyacetic acid affect in vitro chondrogenesis

Diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (DEGME), ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) and their common metabolite, methoxyacetic acid (MAA) have been associated with adverse reproductive effects. The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of DEGME, EGME and MAA on in vitro chondrogenesis and the mechanisms by which these effects occur. Micromass cultures were exposed to DEGME, EGME or MAA for 5 days and proteoglycan abundance and cell proliferation determined. Longer-term 9- and 14-day cultures were exposed to MAA and apoptosis analyzed. All three chemicals decreased proteoglycan abundance and cell proliferation at the highest dose tested (100 μL/mL). However, only MAA showed a dose-dependent effect for both parameters at 0.01, 10, and 100 μL/mL. Furthermore, micromass cultures show an increase in apoptotic cells which when treated with MAA suggest that cell death could result from induced apoptosis. These results suggest that effects of DEGME and EGME are the result of generalized toxicity, but their metabolite MAA induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis during in vitro chondrogenesis.     

Effects of Mangifera indica L. aqueous extract (Vimang) on primary culture of rat hepatocytes

Vimang is an aqueous extract from stem bark of Mangifera indica L. (Mango) with pharmacological properties. It is a mixture of polyphenols (as main components), terpenoids, steroids, fatty acids and microelements. In the present work we studied the cytotoxic effects of Vimang on rat hepatocytes, possible interactions of the extract with drug-metabolizing enzymes and its effects on GSH levels and lipid peroxidation. No cytotoxic effects were observed after 24 h exposure to Vimang of up to 1000 μg/mL, while a moderate cytotoxicity was observed after 48 and 72 h of exposure at higher concentrations (500 and 1000 μg/mL). The effect of the extract (50–400 μg/mL) on several P450 isozymes was evaluated. Exposure of hepatocytes to Vimang at concentrations of up to 100 μg/mL produced a significant reduction (60%) in 7-methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase (MROD; CYP1A2) activity, an increase (50%) in 7-penthoxyresorufin-O-depentylase (PROD; CYP2B1) activity, while no significant effect was observed with other isozymes. To our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the modulation of the activity of the P450 system by an extract of Mangifera indica L. The antioxidant properties of Vimang were also evaluated in t-butyl-hydroperoxide-treated hepatocytes. A 36-h pre-treatment of cells with Vimang (25–200 μg/mL) strongly inhibited the decrease of GSH levels and lipid peroxidation induced by t-butyl-hydroperoxide dose- and time-dependently.     

Liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis method for simultaneous detection of trichloroacetic acid,dichloroacetic acid, S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)glutathione and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine

Trichloroethylene (TCE, CAS 79-01-6) is a widely used industrial chemical, and a common environmental pollutant. TCE is a well-known carcinogen in rodents and is classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans”. Several analytical methods have been proposed for detection of TCE metabolites in biological media utilizing derivatization-free techniques; however, none of them is suitable for simultaneous detection of both oxidative metabolites and glutathione conjugates of TCE in small volume biological samples. Here, we report a new combination of methods for assessment of major TCE metabolites: dichloroacetic acid (DCA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl) glutathione (DCVG). First, DCA and TCA were extracted with ether. Second, the remaining aqueous fraction underwent solid phase extraction for DCVC and DCVG. Then, DCA and TCA were measured by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography ion exchange negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, while DCVC and DCVG were measured by reverse phase positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. This method was applied successfully to measure all 4 TCE metabolites in as little as 50 μl of serum from mice orally exposed to TCE (2100 mg/kg, 2 h). Serum concentrations (mean ± standard deviation) of the TCE metabolites obtained with this method are comparable or equivalent to those previously reported in the literature: DCA, 0.122 ± 0.014 nmol/ml (limit of detection: 0.01 nmol/ml); TCA, 256 ± 30 nmol/ml (0.4 nmol/ml); DCVG, 0.037 ± 0.015 nmol/ml (0.001 nmol/ml); DCVC, 0.0024 ± 0.0009 nmol/ml (0.001 nmol/ml). This method opens new opportunities to increase throughput and decrease number of animals required for mechanistic studies on TCE in rodents.     

Assay for nipecotic acid in small blood samples by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy

An analytical method for nipecotic acid quantification in rat blood was developed utilizing a stable isotope internal standard and capillary gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. The method involves a solid phase extraction step followed by a two-step derivatization. The analytes are separated by capillary gas chromatography and detected by selected ion monitoring of their base peaks at 180 and 185 m/z, respectively. The assay has a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 ng/ml and a limit of quantification of 26 ng/ml in 200 μl of rat whole blood. The linear range of the assay covers from 26 to 6500 ng/ml (r²=0.9996, n=9). The coefficient of variation was less than 10% at concentrations of 50, 1000 and 5000 ng/ml. The assay was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics of R-(-)-nipecotic acid in a rat. R-(-)-nipecotic acid clearance was 4.2 ml/min, its half-life was 1.5 h and its volume of distribution at steady state was 325 ml.     

Cocaine toxicity in cultured rat hepatocytes

Cocaine hydrochloride was added to primary cultures of hepatocytes isolated from naive and phenobarbital-induced (80 mg/kg i.p. for 3 d) Sprague-Dawley rats. Cocaine was cytotoxic, as measured by lactate dehydrogenase release, to cells from naive rats in concentrations of 1 mM or greater. Phenobarbital induction greatly increased the cytotoxic potency of cocaine in vitro, with nearly complete loss of cell viability at cocaine concentrations in culture as low as 0.01 mM. The addition of 10 μM SK&F-525-A to the cultures blocked cocaine cytotoxicity in cells from both naive and phenobarbital-induced rats. These results suggest that the metabolic pathways leading to cocaine hepatotoxicity identified in the mouse also exist in the rat hepatocyte.