title: Biliary excretion of acetaminophen-glutathione as an index of toxic activation of acetaminophen: effect of chemicals that alter acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.
abstract: Acetaminophen (AA) is converted, presumably by cytochrome P-450, to an electrophile which is conjugated with glutathione (GS). AA-GS is excreted into bile, therefore the biliary excretion rate of AA-GS may reflect the rate of activation of AA in vivo. In order to test this hypothesis, the effect of agents capable of altering the activation of AA including cytochrome P-450 inducers and inhibitors, cobaltous chloride which decreases the amount of P-450, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors (indomethacin and naproxen), antioxidants (butylated hydroxyanisole, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid palmitate) and other chemicals known to decrease AA hepatotoxicity (dimethylsulfoxide and cysteamine), on the biliary excretion of AA-GS was studied in hamsters, the species most sensitive to AA-induced hepatotoxicity. The biliary excretion of AA-GS increased linearly up to 1 mmol/kg of AA i.v., but at higher dosages exhibited saturation kinetics. Dosages above 0.5 mmol/kg lowered hepatic GS concentration. Of the cytochrome P-450 inducers, 3-methylcholanthrene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, increased the biliary excretion of AA-GS (2.9- and 3.2-fold, respectively) whereas ethanol and isoniazid did not affect it, and pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile tended to decrease it (43%). Phenobarbital tended to increase the biliary excretion of AA-GS, but not in a statistically significant manner. Several cytochrome P-450 inhibitors [metyrapone, 8-methoxypsoralen, 2-(4,6-dichloro-biphenyloxy) ethylamine, alpha-naphthoflavone and cimetidine] decreased the biliary excretion of AA-GS, although SKF 525-A and piperonyl butoxide did not. Cobaltous chloride decreased dramatically the biliary excretion of AA-GS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madhu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gregus
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Klaassen
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism*; D001711:Biotransformation; D006224:Cricetinae; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000494:pharmacology; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists; D000082:Acetaminophen; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D003543:Cysteamine; C034780:3-(glutathion-S-yl)acetaminophen; D010634:Phenobarbital