Effects of extended peroral borate ingestion on rat liver and brain.
2-Month-old male Wistar rats were given sodium tetraborate in drinking water (3 g/l). Cerebral succinate dehydrogenase activity increased after 10 and 14 weeks of exposure. Increased RNA concentration and increased acid proteinase activity in brain occurred after 14 weeks. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and cytochrome b5 content decreased in the liver microsomal fraction after 10 and 14 weeks. A reduction in the cytochrome P-450 concentration was detected at 14 weeks. The results support the hypothesis that borate anion exerts its toxic action by interfering with flavin metabolism in flavoprotein-dependent pathways.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001881:Borates / Q000633:toxicity*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D001881:Borates