Changes in the hepatic copper conent after treatment with foreign compounds.
The effects of dimercaprol, CaNa2EDTA, D-penicillamine, diethyldithiocarbamate, disulfiram, pyrazole and phenobarbital on the hepatic copper content were studied. Adult male albino rats were given these compounds subcutaneously or intragastrically for 4 or 7 days, and the copper content in the hepatic crude homogenate was measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The metal chelating compounds dimercaprol, D-penicillamine and diethyldithiocarbamate only slightly decreased the level of copper in the liver. CaNa2 EDTA caused no change in the copper content. A slight decrease was found also after phenobarbital treatment. On the contrary, disulfiram and pyrazole increased the copper content 3- and 2-fold, respectively. It is suggested that the accumulation of copper in the liver is due to the cholestatic action of disulfiram and pyrazole.
D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
D002614:Chelating Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D003300:Copper; D004221:Disulfiram; D010634:Phenobarbital