Characterization of the free radical formed in aerobic microsomal incubations containing carbon tetrachloride and NADPH

Oxidative stability and radical scavenging activity of extra virgin olive oils: An electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy study

The oxidative stability of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) from the Greek island of Crete was evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and the spin trapping technique. The spin trap N-t-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) was added to the olive oil samples and the production of free radicals was monitored during heating at 70 degrees C. Induction time for the accelerated oxidation of virgin olive oils at 70 degrees C was determined. The EPR results were compared with the oxidative stability values provided by the Rancimat method at 110 degrees C and high linear correlations were found (r=0.922). EPR spin trapping provides a sensitive and rapid method for evaluating the oxidative stability of EVOO. The same samples of Greek extra virgin olive oils were also examined for their radical scavenging activity (RSA) toward the stable galvinoxyl radical by EPR spectroscopy. The decrease of the intensity of the EPR signal upon incubation time was followed. Both oxidative stability and radical scavenging activity of EVOO samples were correlated to their content in polyphenols and tocopherols.

Differential effects of partial hepatectomy and carbon tetrachloride administration on induction of liver cell foci in a model for detection of initiation activity

Differential effects of partial hepatectomy (PH) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) administration on induction of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci were investigated in a model for detection of initiation activity. Firstly, we surveyed cell proliferation kinetics and fluctuation in cytochrome P450 (CYP) mRNA levels by means of relative-quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and CYP 2E1 apoprotein amount by immunoblotting (experiment I) after PH or CCl(4) administration. Next, to assess the interrelationships among cell proliferation, fluctuation of CYPs after PH or CCl(4) administration and induction of liver cell foci, the non-hepatocarcinogen, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) was administered to 7-week-old male F344 rats and initiated populations were selected using the resistant hepatocyte model (experiment II). In experiment I, the values of all CYP isozyme mRNAs after PH or CCl(4) administration were drastically decreased at the 12-h time point. From 72 h, mRNAs for all CYP isozymes began increasing, with complete recovery after 7 days. The CYP 2E1 apoprotein content in the PH group fluctuated weakly, whereas in the CCl(4) group it had decreased rapidly after 12 h and was still low at the 48 h point. In experiment II, induction of GST-P-positive foci was related to cell kinetics in the PH group, with about a 6-h time lag between time for carcinogen administration giving greatest induction of GST-P-positive foci and peaks in bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling, presumably due to the necessity for bioactivation of DMH. With CCl(4) administration, induction of foci appeared dependent on the recovery of CYP 2E1. In conclusion, PH was able to induce cell proliferation with maintenance of CYP 2E1, therefore being advantageous for induction of liver cell foci in models to detect initiation activity.

Evaluation of oxidative stress during apoptosis and necrosis caused by carbon tetrachloride in rat liver

After 12, 18, and 24 h of oral administration of carbon tetrachloride (as a 1:1 mixture with mineral oil: 4 ml/kg body weight) to rats, the activity of caspase-3-like protease in the liver increased significantly compared to that in the control group that was given mineral oil (4 ml/kg). In plasma, the activity of caspase-3 was barely detectable in the control rat, but increased significantly 24 h after drug administration along with a dramatic increase in glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase. These results indicate that carbon tetrachloride causes apoptosis in the liver by activating caspase-3, which is released to plasma by secondary necrosis. After 18 and 24 h of carbon tetrachloride administration, the liver concentration of hydrophilic vitamin C was decreased significantly, while that of hydrophobic vitamin E was not affected. The plasma concentration of vitamins C and E was not influenced significantly. These results suggest that carbon tetrachloride induces oxidative stress mainly in the aqueous phase of the liver cell.

The structure of free radical metabolites detected by EPR spin trapping and mass spectroscopy from halocarbons in rat liver microsomes

Electron impact (EI) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) combined with EPR spin trapping was used to detect and identify the free radical metabolites of various halocarbons in rat liver microsomal dispersions. EPR spectra of the spin adducts of radical metabolites derived from fluorine-containing halocarbons display fluorine hyperfine splitting, which can be used as proof for the identification of this kind of halocarbon-derived free radical spin adduct. For halocarbons without fluorine atoms, MS/MS was found to be a very useful and simple method for the detection and identification of the structures of halocarbon-derived spin adducts from radical metabolites. The molecular ions from spin adducts of these halocarbon-derived free radical intermediates were observed for the first time by scanning the precursor ion spectrum of m/z 57. These assignments were further confirmed by the use of perdeuterated tert-butyl PBN which provides the precursor ion spectrum of m/z 66.

Tandem mass spectrometry study of C-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone spin adducts from in vitro rat liver microsomal metabolism of bromotrichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride

Electron ionization and thermospray were used in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry methods to identify trichloromethyl/C-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) spin adducts produced in rat liver microsomal dispersions that had been treated with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-generating system and BrCCl3 (or CCl4). In the identification of PBN spin adducts, a scan of precursors of m / z 57 was utilized to confirm the presence of PBN spin adducts, because PBN spin adducts produce m / z 57 from tert-butyl as a characteristic fragment. Use of deuterated PBN (PBN-d9 deuterated at tert-butyl; PBN-d 14 deuterated at both phenyl and tert-butyl) improved the recognition of PBN adducts in mixtures by precursor ion scans, because m / z 66 (which corresponds to the deuterated tert-butyl group) is characteristic and, unlike m / z 57, it is not a common fragment for any other compounds. Two new PBN spin adducts that were not detected before by electron paramagnetic resonance or mass spectrometry were identified by these methods for the first time.

Ergosterol oxidation may be considered a signal for fungal growth and aflatoxin production in Aspergillus parasiticus

The addition of compounds able to peroxidize cell lipids (carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), cumene hydroperoxide (CUH), or linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAH)) to 5-day-old Czapek-Dox Medium cultures of Aspergillus parasiticus induces a significant reduction of the tri-unsaturated ergosterol (ERG) levels in fungal microsomes and mitochondria, whereas the concentrations of the di-unsaturated linoleic acid (LA; C18:2 n-6) are unaffected. Aflatoxin (AFT) output follows ERG reduction and is associated with both a renewal of fungal growth and a slow increase of ERG concentration in subcellular membranes. We suggest that, by analogy with the regulatory role played on cell proliferation and metabolism by polyunsaturated fatty acid by-products (eicosanoids) in mammalian membranes, by-products of ERG oxidation may be considered triggers sufficient to induce both further fungal growth and AFT biosynthesis.

Boldine prevents human liver microsomal lipid peroxidation and inactivation of cytochrome P4502E1

Boldine, an alkaloid found in the leaves and bark of boldo, prevented the ferric-ATP catalyzed peroxidation of human liver microsomes. Lipid peroxidation, dependent upon electron transfer from NADPH or NADH, was comparably inhibited by boldine, with a K(I) value of about 5 microM. Inactivation and decreased content of human cytochrome P4502E1 as a consequence of incubating microsomes with ferric-ATP and reductant was completely prevented by boldine. However, inactivation of cytochrome P4502E1 by CCl4 was not prevented by boldine, although the alkaloid prevented CCl4-catalyzed lipid peroxidation. This suggests that the CCl4 inactivation of P4502E1 may be independent of CCl4-mediated lipid peroxidation. In view of its low toxicity, lack of effect on P450 activity, and strong inhibition of peroxidation of human liver microsomes, boldine may be valuable as an antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent.

Study of reproducibility of spin trapping results in the use of C-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) for trichloromethyl radical detection in CCl4 metabolism by rat liver microsomal dispersions. Biological spin trapping I

The well-known metabolism of CCl4 to trichloromethyl radicals in rat liver microsomal dispersions has been reinvestigated with the goal to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of the EPR signal intensity of the EPR spectrum of the CCl3 adduct of PBN. It was found that at least eight repeat experiments were needed under identical conditions to obtain an average value with an error of +/- 10%. When the effect of changing the concentrations of CCl4, PBN or NADPH-generating system was investigated, the plots of EPR signal intensity vs. the variable selected showed initial smooth increases in signal strength with respect to an increase in concentrations of CCl4, PBN or NADPH-generating system. However, considerable scatter was found after the initial slope and only general trends could be recognized. It is concluded that with CCl4, no increase in EPR signal is found after 10 mM concentration. For PBN, the optimum concentration is about 30 mM. The signal strength seems to increase with increased amounts of NADPH generating system although with diminishing slope.

Hepatotoxic interaction between carbon tetrachloride and chloroform in ethanol treated rats

The effect of coadministration of CHCl3 on CCl4-induced hepatic damage was investigated at low dose inhalation. Coexposure of CHCl3 did not influence CCl4-induced changes in any index of hepatic damage in control rats. Coadministration of CHCl3, however, enhanced CCl4 (10 ppm)-induced hepatic damage of ethanol treated rats in a dose- and duration-dependent manner: simultaneous exposure of 50 ppm CHCl3 potentiated CCl4-induced increase in plasma GPT activity and number of necrotic hepatocytes; the enhancement of CCl4-induced hepatic damage by 50 ppm CHCl3 was found over the 4 h exposure; simultaneous exposure of 10 and 25 ppm CHCl3 potentiated the CCl4-induced increase in liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In contrast, coadministration of 50 ppm trichloroethylene and 200 ppm 1,1,1-trichloroethane decreased CCl4-induced increase in plasma GPT activity, though these exposures did not influence the liver MDA content. These results suggest that the concentration of 10 ppm CCl4 may be significant for CHCl3 to potentiate the hepatic damage caused by CCl4 in ethanol-treated rats. Heavy drinkers may have a higher hepatotoxic risk for a mixture of CCl4 and CHCl3 than for a single exposure to CCl4 or CHCl3, and a particular attention should be therefore given to the joint exposure to CCl4 and CHCl3.

Radical adducts of nitrosobenzene and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane with 12,13-epoxylinoleic acid radical, 12,13-epoxylinolenic acid radical and 14,15-epoxyarachidonic acid radical. Identification by h.p.l.c.-e.p.r. and liquid chromatography-thermospray-m.s

Linoleic acid-derived radicals, which are formed in the reaction of linoleic acid with soybean lipoxygenase, were trapped with nitrosobenzene and the resulting radical adducts were analysed by h.p.l.c.-e.p.r. and liquid chromatography-thermospray-m.s. Three nitrosobenzene radical adducts (peaks I, II and III) were detected; these gave the following parent ion masses: 402 for peak I, 402 for peak II, and 386 for peak III. The masses of peaks I and II correspond to the linoleic acid radicals with one more oxygen atom [L(O).]. The radicals are probably carbon-centred, because the use of 17O2 did not result in an additional hyperfine splitting. Computer simulation of the peak I radical adduct e.p.r. spectrum also suggested that the radical is carbon-centred. The peak I radical was also detected in the reaction of 13-hydroperoxylinoleic acid with FeSO4. From the above results, peak I is probably the 12,13-epoxylinoleic acid radical. An h.p.l.c.-e.p.r. experiment using [9,10,12,13-2H4]linoleic acid suggested that the 12,13-epoxylinoleic acid radical is a C-9-centred radical. Peak II is possibly an isomer of peak I. Peak III, which was observed in the reaction mixture without soybean lipoxygenase, corresponds to a linoleic acid radical (L.). The 12,13-epoxylinoleic acid radical, 12,13-epoxylinolenic acid radical and 14,15-epoxyarachidonic acid radical were also detected in the reactions of linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidonic acid respectively, with soybean lipoxygenase using nitrosobenzene and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane as spin-trapping agents.

The spin trap, alpha-phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone, inhibits the oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein

The lipophilic spin trap, N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) inhibits the formation of the oxidatively-modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) by endothelial cells and by cupric ions. The LDL incubated in the presence of PBN with cells or cupric ions was less readily degraded by macrophages than the LDL incubated in the absence of PBN. A lipid-derived radical formed during oxidation of LDL was detected by spin trapping with PBN. It is likely that PBN inhibits the oxidative and biological modification of LDL by scavenging the LDL-lipid-derived radical.

Depressed function of Kupffer cells in rats with CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis

In the present study, the Kupffer cell function of rats with CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis was tested by analyzing the changes in the host defense system. In rats without liver cirrhosis injected with CCl4 for 3 weeks concomitant with the high opsonic activity the endocytic index was significantly increased. Rats treated for 9 and 13 weeks developed cirrhosis, and their endocytic indices were not increased despite the rise in their opsonic activity. Particularly, the endocytic index of 13-week-treated rats with advanced liver cirrhosis was significantly lower than that of the other groups. The organic distribution of 51Cr-endotoxin injected intravenously exhibited characteristic changes in 9-week- and 13-week-treated rats: decreased hepatic uptake and increased splenic uptake. In contrast, pulmonary uptake was increased in all CCl4-treated rats. The superoxide production by Kupffer cells from 13-week-treated rats was greatly reduced, accompanied by the decreased superoxide dismutase activity of liver homogenate. Thus, results of this study suggest that Kupffer cell dysfunction is one of the main factors affecting host defenses in liver cirrhosis.

Mass spectroscopy and chromatography of the trichloromethyl radical adduct of phenyl tert-butyl nitrone

Positive structural identification of the PBN-trichloromethyl spin adduct in vitro was accomplished with the use of high pressure liquid chromatography and/or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Both thin layer and liquid chromatography were used to separate a complex mixture of compounds from rat liver extracts treated with CCl4 in vitro and in vivo. Deuterated PBN's (PBN-d9; tert-butyl deuteration, or PBN-d14; both phenyl and tert-butyl deuteration) were also used to aid in the mass spectral analysis of spin adducts from liver extracts of CCl4 exposed rat livers, since the tert-butyl group fragment ion. C4D9+ (m/z = 66) is always present for PBN and PBN spin adducts. In addition, the masses of the ion peaks increase by the amount of deuteration, i.e. an increase of 9 for PBN-d9 or PBN-d14 in comparison to normally synthesized PBN.

Spin trapping of lipid-derived radicals in liposomes

Electron-spin resonance-spin trapping has been used to detect lipid-derived radicals in liposomes. Using the lipid-soluble spin trap 2-methyl-nitrosopropane (MNP), we have detected both the lipid and hydrogen-atom spin adducts in liposomes composed of a fully saturated phospholipid (dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, DMPC) with various mol fractions of unsaturated phospholipid (1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoylphosphatidylcholine, PAPC) or fatty acid (arachidonic acid, AA). The lipid-derived spin adduct formed during autoxidation of liposomes was separated by thin-layer chromatography and found to co-migrate with the product(s) formed by direct addition of MNP to the corresponding unsaturated lipid or fatty acid. Both the MNP-PAPC and MNP-AA spin adducts showed some restriction of rotational motion when in the liposome bilayer (rotational correlation times 0.72 and 0.69.10(-9) s, respectively), and nitrogen hyperfine coupling constants (14.94-14.96 G) consistent with a hydrophobic localization. Radical versus non-radical mechanisms of spin adduct formation during liposome autoxidation were separated using alpha-tocopherol as a radical scavenger. The utility of nitroso spin traps in trapping of radicals in liposomes is discussed.

Activation of the microsomal glutathione-S-transferase and reduction of the glutathione dependent protection against lipid peroxidation by acrolein

Allyl alcohol is hepatotoxic. It is generally believed that acrolein, generated out of allyl alcohol by cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase, is responsible for this toxicity. The effect of acrolein in vitro and in vivo on the glutathione (GSH) dependent protection of liver microsomes against lipid peroxidation, and on the microsomal GSH-S-transferase (GSH-tr) in the rat was determined. In vitro incubation of liver microsomes with 5 mM acrolein for 30 sec resulted in a 2-fold activation of the GSH-tr. This activation probably proceeds via alkylation of the thiol group of the GSH-tr. In vivo administration of 1.1 mmol allyl alcohol/kg to rats did also result in a 2-fold stimulation of the GSH-tr activity. Administration of 375 mg pyrazole/kg, an inhibitor of the alcohol dehydrogenase, thus reducing the acrolein formation, prevented the in vivo stimulation of GSH-tr by allyl alcohol. This indicates that the activation of GSH-tr in vivo by allyl alcohol probably also proceeds via alkylation of the thiol group of the GSH-tr by acrolein. GSH protects liver microsomes against lipid peroxidation, probably via a free radical reductase that reduces vitamin E radicals at the expense of GSH. Incubating liver microsomes for 30 min with 0.1 mM acrolein reduced the GSH dependent protection against lipid peroxidation, probably because an essential thiol group(s) on the free radical reductase is alkylated. In vivo administration of allyl alcohol did not reduce the GSH dependent protection of the microsomes. Probably the thiol group(s) located on the free radical reductase is less accessible or less reactive than the thiol group on the GSH-tr. After administration of allyl alcohol we found no evidence for in vivo lipid peroxidation. Therefore we could not evaluate the importance of the GSH dependent protection against lipid peroxidation in vivo.

Applications of electron spin resonance spectroscopy to the identification of radicals produced during lipid peroxidation

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, which is the only commonly available method for directly detecting free radicals in biological systems, has now been quite extensively used to study radicals produced by metabolism of xenobiotic chemicals and the interaction of such species with lipid molecules. This review examines a variety of different xenobiotic systems and tissues and summarises the information obtained from these studies, with particular reference to the elucidation of the nature of the radicals involved in the initiation and propagation of lipid peroxidation.

Application of ESR spectroscopy in toxicology

Spin trapping in vivo was first achieved in the author's laboratory and is shown to be a feasible method for demonstrating that highly reactive free radical intermediates are generated in the tissues of intact animals as a result of the exposure to certain toxic compounds and to ionizing radiation. The method is based on the property of spin trapping agents (nitrones) to react readily with reactive free radicals to produce stable radical adducts at the site of their origin in target organs. The radical adducts can then be detected by electron spin resonance spectroscopy to determine the intensity of radical production (i.e., number of radicals which were trapped), and, in most cases, identify the nature of the radical that was produced. The type of spin trapping agent employed determines the type of radicals which can be trapped and, at this stage of development of the technique, the number of useful in vivo trapping agents is rather limited.

Detection of free radicals generated from the in vitro metabolism of carbon tetrachloride using improved ESR spin trapping techniques

The spin trapping chemistry of carbon tetrachloride has been previously investigated in rat liver, both in vitro and in vivo. In addition to the trichloromethyl radical, both a 'carbon-centered' and an 'oxygen-centered' radical have been detected in vitro. These spin adducts have been assigned to 'lipid' and 'lipid oxyl' radicals. However, no specific structural characterization has been provided to date. The spin trapping chemistry of this system was reinvestigated with the use of deuterated alpha-phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrones to obtain better spectral resolution. Results indicate that the PBN trapped carbon-centered lipid radical is of a primary alkyl type.

Spin trapping: ESR parameters of spin adducts

Spin trapping has become a valuable tool for the study of free radicals in biology and medicine. The electron spin resonance hyperfine splitting constants of spin adducts of interest in this area are tabulated. The entries also contain a brief comment on the source of the radical trapped.

The metabolism of halothane by hepatocytes: a comparison between free radical spin trapping and lipid peroxidation in relation to cell damage

The technique of free radical spin trapping has been applied to demonstrate the formation of free radicals produced during the metabolism of halothane by rat liver hepatocytes under hypoxic conditions. The results obtained support previous findings that reported sex differences in the metabolic activation of halothane by rats in vivo. Cell viability under hypoxic conditions, as judged by trypan blue staining and lactate dehydrogenase release, shows a correlation with the extent of metabolism of halothane as measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The extent of lipid peroxidation was measured by diene conjugation, malondialdehyde production and chemiluminescence. The latter technique allowed the demonstration of lipid peroxidation during incubations of hepatocytes under aerobic conditions. The magnitude of the aerobic chemiluminescence showed a similar sex dependency to the extent of free radical formation under hypoxic conditions. Cell viability measurements show that halothane metabolism in both hypoxic and aerobic conditions can lead to cell death. Consequently, oxidative lipid damage could be a cause of cell damage, as judged by cell viability, additional to covalent binding.

Spin-trapping studies on the free-radical products formed by metabolic activation of carbon tetrachloride in rat liver microsomal fractions isolated hepatocytes and in vivo in the rat

1. The metabolic activation of carbon tetrachloride to free-radical intermediates is an important step in the sequence of disturbances leading to the acute liver injury produced by this toxic agent. Electron-spin-resonance (e.s.r.) spin-trapping techniques were used to characterize the free-radical species involved. 2. Spin trapping was applied to the activation of carbon tetrachloride by liver microsomal fractions in the presence of NADPH, and by isolated intact rat hepatocytes. The results obtained with the spin trap N-benzylidene-2-methylpropylamine N-oxide ('phenyl t-butyl nitrone') (PBN) and [13C]carbon tetrachloride provide unequivocal evidence for the formation and trapping of the trichloromethyl free radical in these systems. 3. With the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane, however, the major free-radical species trapped are unsaturated lipid radicals produced by the initiating reaction of lipid peroxidation. 4. Although pulse radiolysis and other evidence support the very rapid formation of the trichloromethyl peroxy radical from the trichloromethyl radical and oxygen, no clear evidence for the trapping of the peroxy radical was obtainable. 5. The effects of a number of free-radical scavengers and metabolic inhibitors on the formation of the PBN-trichloromethyl radical adduct were studied, as were the influences of changing the concentration of PBN and incubation time. 6. High concentrations of the spin traps used were found to have significant effects on cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions; this requires caution in interpreting results of experiments done in the presence of PBN at concentrations greater than 50 mM.

Reductive metabolism of carbon tetrachloride by human cytochromes P-450 reconstituted in phospholipid vesicles: mass spectral identification of trichloromethyl radical bound to dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine

It has been proposed that covalent binding of reactive metabolites to liver membrane constituents may be responsible for the hepatoxicity of carbon tetrachloride. This study demonstrates that trichloromethyl free radical is the major reductive metabolite of carbon tetrachloride by cytochrome P-450 and that this free radical is capable of binding to double bonds of fatty acyl chains of the phospholipids in the membrane surrounding cytochrome P-450. The structural identification of the reactive free radical metabolite and the product of its addition to phospholipids was accomplished by use of a reconstituted system of human cytochromes P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and cytochrome b5 in phospholipid vesicles. The reconstituted vesicles contained a mixture of dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine and egg phosphatidylethanolamine that served as both structural components and targets for trichloromethyl free radical binding. After incubation of these vesicles under a N2 atmosphere in the presence of NADPH with 14CCl4, the phospholipids were extracted and then separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine fraction was transesterified and the resulting single 14C-labeled fatty acid methyl ester was purified by reverse-phase chromatography. Desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry with ammonia as reagent gas as well as desorption electron-impact mass spectrometry permitted identification of the molecular structure as a mixture of 9- and 10-(trichloromethyl)stearate methyl esters.

Carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation: a spin trapping study

It has been suggested that the active species responsible for carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation is trichloromethyl radical ( . CCl3). Direct evidence for the existence of this reactive species can be obtained by spin trapping techniques, however, there are conflicting reports as to the identity of this free radical trapped. We have found that upon addition of carbon tetrachloride to a mixture of rat hepatic microsomes, NADPH and the spin trap, alpha (4-pyridinyl-1-oxide)-N-butyl nitrone (4-POBN) an electron paramagnetic resonance (epr) spectrum appeared. This spectrum was identical to that observed in the absence of carbon tetrachloride, except for enhanced rate of formation. We were able to identify this free radical, using model systems as a lipid peroxyl radical (LOO . ).

Mechanism of the microsomal reduction of carbon tetrachloride and halothane

The source of the hydrogen atoms in reduced metabolites of carbon tetrachloride and halothane has been studied. This was approached by measuring deuterium incorporation into chloroform and 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane formed as microsomal metabolites of carbon tetrachloride and halothane, respectively, in a medium enriched in deuterium oxide. GC/MS analysis showed no deuterium enrichment of chloroform when hepatic microsomal fractions from control rats were used; however, small increases in enrichment were seen when microsomes from phenobarbital or benzpyrene-treated rats were employed. no detectable deuterium incorporation into 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane was observed. These results suggest that carbanions are not formed as major intermediates and suggest that one-electron transfer reactions predominate in the reductive metabolism of carbon tetrachloride and halothane.