Effects of drug metabolism inhibitors on butylated hydroxytoluene-induced pulmonary toxicity in mice

Abstract

The administration of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) to mice results in lung cell damage followed by cellular proliferation which was quantitated by measuring the increase in thymidine incorporation into pulmonary DNA. Administration of SKF 525-A or piperonyl butoxide to mice treated with BHT prevented the increase in thymidine incorporation into pulmonary DNA. This effect was dose dependent, with complete protection from 400 mg/kg BHT achieved with 10 mg/kg SKF 525-A or 400 mg/kg piperonyl butoxide. SKF 525-A and piperonyl butoxide completely prevented the BHT-induced increase in pulmonary DNA synthesis even when given 1–2 hr after BHT and a partial protective effect was evident when they were given 6–12 hr after BHT. Pretreatment of mice with cobaltous chloride diminished the BHT-induced increase in thymidine incorporation into pulmonary DNA. Following the in vivo administration of [ 14C]BHT, radioactivity was covalently bound to lung, liver, and kidney macromolecules of both mice, which exhibited BHT-induced lung damage, and rats, which did not. The greatest amount of radioactivity was bound to lung tissue from mice. This binding was prevented by the administration of SKF 525-A and was a linear function of the BHT dose within a range of 50–600 mg/kg. Binding to other tissues from the mouse and all tissues examined in the rat was minimal and unaffected by SKF 525-A. These data suggest that a reactive metabolite of BHT rather than the parent compound produces lung damage in mice.