Multiple aspects of the toxicity of fluroxene and its metabolite 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Role of P4502E1 in the metabolism of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-ethane

1. The metabolism of 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-ethane (HFE), a prospective chlorofluorocarbon alternative, was studied in rat and human liver microsomes and in rat in vivo. 2. HFE was metabolized to inorganic fluoride, trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate, trifluoroacetic acid and difluoroacetic acid, which were identified by 19F-nmr in microsomal incubation. After i.p. dosing with 200 mg/kg HFE to rat, trifluoroacetic acid and trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate were identified as urinary metabolites. 3. The formation of inorganic fluoride from HFE was used to quantify oxidative metabolism. In liver microsomes from untreated rat, formation of inorganic fluoride could not be detected. However, microsomes from rats treated with P4502E1 (2E1) inducers ethanol and pyridine catalysed the formation of fluoride at different rates. The extent of fluoride formation in microsomes correlated with the amount of 2E1 protein as determined by immunoblots with a polyclonal antibody and with the extent of oxidation of p-nitrophenol and chlorzoxazone, two specific substrates for 2E1. 4. In different samples of human liver microsomes, the formation of inorganic fluoride correlated well with the ability of the microsomes to oxidize chlorzoxazone and p-nitrophenol and the amount of 2E1 protein as determined by immunoblots. 5. The obtained results suggest that 2E1 plays a major role in the metabolism of HFE in rat and man.

Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of selected halon replacement candidates

Metabolism studies were conducted using Fischer 344 and Sprague-Dawley rats following inhalation exposure to 1.0% (v/v) air atmospheres of 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124), 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (HCFC-142b), bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211), and perfluorohexane (PFH) for 2 h. There were no remarkable differences in results between the two strains of rats. Animals exposed to HCFC-123 or HCFC-124 excreted trifluoroacetic acid in their urine. Urinary fluoride concentrations were increased in rats exposed to HCFC-124, and urinary bromide levels were increased in rats exposed to Halon 1211. Small quantities of volatile metabolites 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HCFC-133a) and 2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethylene were observed in the livers of rats exposed to HCFC-123. Rats exposed to HCFC-142b excreted chlorodifluoroacetic acid in their urine; no volatile metabolites were detected in tissue samples. For PFH studies, no metabolites were detected in the urine or tissues of exposed animals. These results are consistent with proposed oxidative and reductive pathways of metabolism for these chemicals. Pharmacokinetic studies were carried out in rats exposed by inhalation to 1.0%, 0.1%, or 0.01% of HCFC-123. Following exposure, blood concentrations of HCFC-123 fell sharply, whereas trifluoroacetic acid levels rose for approx. 5 h and then declined gradually. Using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model, saturation of HCFC-123 metabolism was estimated to occur at approx. 0.2% (2000 ppm) HCFC-123.

19F nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of trifluoroethanol metabolites in the urine of the Sprague-Dawley rat

2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) is a common industrial solvent and a known metabolite of the inhalation anesthetics fluroxene (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether) and halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane). The water-soluble metabolites of TFE were identified in the urine of Sprague-Dawley rats using 19F NMR spectroscopy. In rats dosed with 0.21 g TFE/kg body weight, approximately one-half of the administered TFE was excreted as the trifluoroethyl glucuronide. The remaining TFE was oxidized, primarily to trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate, with a small percentage of the aldehyde oxidized further to trifluoroacetate. One additional fluorinated compound was found; after investigation, this was identified as a Schiff's base compound resulting from the addition of trifluoroacetaldehyde to urea. The time-dependent excretion of TFE metabolites was measured as a function of ethanol induction of hepatic enzymes. This study demonstrates the utility of 19F NMR for the analysis of drug metabolism in laboratory animals. In addition, the resistance of trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate to further oxidation, coupled with its reactivity with common cellular amines, indicates the potential toxicity of this metabolite to mammalian tissues.

Defluorination of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) by rat hepatocytes

As part of its toxicological evaluation we assessed the in vitro metabolism of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), a non-ozone-depleting chemical likely to replace dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) as an air-conditioning refrigerant. Hepatocyte suspensions in sealed flasks produced increasing quantities of F- (detected in the liquid media) as the headspace concentration of R-134a increased from 1% to 50% (balance of atmosphere 95% O2-5% CO2); the kinetics of defluorination suggested substrate-saturation. Little F- was detected in cultures without R-134a or in cell suspensions heated prior to addition of R-134a. Halothane (1,1,1-trichloro-2-bromo-2-chloro-ethane), although not defluorinated by hepatocytes maintained with 95% O2, inhibited defluorination of R-134a. Hepatocytes from phenobarbital-treated rats dehalogenated high (greater than or equal to 25%) concentrations of R-134a at greater rates than cells from untreated rats. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that oxidative metabolism of R-134a by cytochrome P-450 can occur in vivo.