Activities of hepatic epoxide hydrolase and glutathione S-transferase in rats under the influence of tetramethyl thiuramdisulfide, tetramethyl thiurammonosulfide or dimethyl dithiocarbamate

Abstract

The epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity in the liver of adult female Wistar rats significantly increased 18 h after the administration by gavage of tetramethyl thiuramdisulfide (TMTD, 1 mmol/kg) or tetramethyl thiurammonosulfide (TMTM, 2 mmol/kg). No increase was observed 5 h after administration of Nadimethyl dithiocarbamate (Na-DMDTC, 4 mmol/kg). The glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in the cytosol and microsomes of the liver was slightly enhanced after oral (gavage) administration of TMTD, TMTM or Na-DMDTC (doses up to 4 mmol/kg). In vitro, TMTD, TMTM, and Na-DMDTC significantly enhanced the hepatic activity of EH prepared from adult female Wistar rats. Cytosolic and microsomal GST activities from the liver were significantly raised in vitro by Na-DMDTC. The results have a bearing on the evaluation of the risk to health of these chemicals in the workplace.