Evidence for zinc protection against 2,5-hexanedione toxicity by co-exposure of rats to zinc chloride.
The protective role of zinc against the toxic effects of 2, 5-hexanedione (2,5-HD), the main neurotoxic metabolite of n-hexane, was investigated by studying the interference of zinc on the toxicokinetics of 2,5-HD. Six groups of Wistar rats were exposed for 3 days to diets containing 2,5-HD, zinc chloride and 2,5-HD+zinc chloride. The amounts of pyrroles and free and total 2,5-HD in urine were determined using Ehrlichs's reagent and gas chromatography/flame ionization detection, respectively. The results show that after the first day of co-exposure (ZnCl(2)+2,5-HD) there was a significant decrease in the excretion of pyrroles and free 2, 5-HD in rats exposed to the chemical mixture when compared to the pyrroles and free 2,5-HD excreted in rats exposed to 2,5-HD alone. However, no significant decrease was observed in the urinary excretion of total 2,5-HD (free 2,5-HD + preformed 2,5-HD). Suggestions are made about the role played by this metal ion in inhibiting pyrrole formation.
Mateus
M L
ML
Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Av das Forças Armadas, 1600 Lisbon, Portugal.
Santos
A P
AP
Batoreu
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006588:Hexanones / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002712:Chlorides; D006588:Hexanones; D011758:Pyrroles; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride; C011269:2,5-hexanedione