title: Disulfiram prevents acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: Hepatic necrosis due to an oral acetaminophen overdose (4.25 g/kg b.wt.) was prevented by pretreatment with disulfiram 100 mg/kg, given for 3 weeks or as a single dose. Twenty-four hours after acetaminophen the impairment of hepatic function, measured as prothrombin index, and the depletion of hepatic glutathione were prevented. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 levels were unchanged but cytochrome P-450 mediated p-nitroanisole demethylation was reduced by disulfiram pretreatment. Disulfiram pretreatment reduced 24 hour urinary excretion of acetaminophen-mercapturate and- cysteine while excretion of -sulfate and -glucuronide was unchanged. After 72 hours acetaminophen induced hepatic necrosis were prevented. Identical observations were made in animals pretreated with disulfiram for 3 weeks. Five hours after acetaminophen overdose its irreversible binding to hepatic proteins was not changed. After 24 hours, however, it was increased in animals pretreated with a single disulfiram dose and unchanged in animals pretreated for 3 weeks. The protective mechanism of disulfiram after acetaminophen overdose is not mediated via a change in overall irreversible binding of acetaminophen to hepatic protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Poulsen
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D000082:Acetaminophen; D004221:Disulfiram