Characterization of biliary conjugates of 4,4'-methylenedianiline in male versus female rats.

4,4'-Methylenedianiline (4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane; DAPM) is an aromatic diamine used in the production of numerous polyurethane foams and epoxy resins. Previous studies in rats revealed that DAPM initially injures biliary epithelial cells of the liver, that the toxicity is greater in female than in male rats, and that the toxic metabolites of DAPM are excreted into bile. Since male and female rats exhibit differences in the expression of both phase I and phase II enzymes, our hypothesis was that female rats either metabolize DAPM to more toxic metabolites or have a decreased capacity to conjugate metabolites to less toxic intermediates.

Effects of methylenedianiline on tight junction permeability of biliary epithelial cells in vivo and in vitro.

Methylenedianiline (DAPM) is considered a cholangiodestructive toxicant in vivo. Increases in biliary inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and glucose occur prior to biliary epithelial cell (BEC) injury, which could be due to increased paracellular permeability and/or impairment of P(i) and glucose uptake by BEC. To evaluate these possibilities, we induced mild injury [loss of BEC from major bile ducts (6 h), ultrastructural alterations in BEC mitochondria and Golgi cisternae (3 h), and striking increases in biliary P(i) and glucose (3-6 h)] with 25 mg DAPM/kg and then assessed temporal alterations in tight junction (TJ) permeability by measuring bile to plasma (B:P) ratios of [(3)H]-inulin.

Intestinal tract injury by drugs: Importance of metabolite delivery by yellow bile road.

Drug secretion into bile is typically considered a safe route of clearance. However, biliary delivery of some drugs or their reactive metabolites to the intestinal tract evokes adverse consequences due to direct toxic actions or indirect disruption of intestinal homeostasis. Biliary concentration of the chemotherapy agent 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) and other compounds is associated with bile duct damage while enterohepatic cycling of antibiotics contributes to the disruptions of gut flora that produce diarrhea.

Efficient high performance liquid chromatograph/ultraviolet method for determination of diclofenac and 4'-hydroxydiclofenac in rat serum.

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for determination of diclofenac and its major metabolite, 4'-hydroxydiclofenac, in serum from rats treated with diclofenac. The method is simple with a one-step extraction procedure, isocratic HPLC separation, and UV detection at 280 nm. Use of N-phenylanthranilic acid as the internal standard provided good accuracy without interference by endogenous compounds or 5-hydroxydiclofenac, another metabolite of interest.

Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs before transport or tight junction deficits in biliary epithelial cells exposed to bile from methylenedianiline-treated rats.

Methylenedianiline (DAPM) rapidly injures biliary epithelial cells (BEC) in vivo. Prior to evident BEC injury, biliary glucose and inorganic phosphate appreciably rise, which could stem from loosened tight junctions (TJ). Concurrently, ultrastructural abnormalities in BEC mitochondria of DAPM-treated animals are observed, suggesting other impairments.

Vascular medial hyperplasia following chronic, intermittent exposure to 4,4'-methylenedianiline.

4,4'-Methylenedianiline (DAPM) is an aromatic amine used in the synthesis of polyurethanes and epoxy resins. Acute exposure to DAPM produces hepatobiliary toxicity in humans as well as animal models. However, the toxic effects of intermittent DAPM exposure have not been explored.

Glutathione depletion exacerbates methylenedianiline toxicity to biliary epithelial cells and hepatocytes in rats.

Methylenedianiline (DAPM) initially injures epithelial cells of major bile ducts, which is followed by cholestasis, cholangitis, and hepatocellular damage. This pattern of biliary injury resembles that produced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT), a classic bile duct toxicant. Our goal was to determine whether prior depletion of hepatic total glutathione (GSx), a condition reported to protect against biliary tract injury by ANIT, would also protect against DAPM-induced bile duct injury.

Evaluation of the gender differences in 4,4'-methylenedianiline toxicity, distribution, and effects on biliary parameters.

Exposure to 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DAPM) has been linked to jaundice, toxic hepatitis, cholangitis, and cholestasis. In rodents, DAPM initially injures biliary epithelial cells, and toxicity is greater in female than male rats. Our goal was to determine if gender differences in DAPM toxicity were due to differences in biliary excretion or covalent binding of DAPM metabolites in the liver.

A minimally toxic dose of methylene dianiline injures biliary epithelial cells in rats.

The threshold for hepatotoxicity and cholestasis induced by methylene dianiline (DAPM) in rats is between 25 and 75 mg/kg (Bailie et al., Environ. Health Perspect.

Effect of hyperthyroidism on the in vitro metabolism and covalent binding of 1,1-dichloroethylene in rat liver microsomes.

Hyperthyroidism potentiates the in vivo hepatotoxicity of 1,1-dicholoroethylene (DCE) in rats, with a concomitant increase in [14C]-DCE covalent binding. The enhanced injury produced in hyperthyroid livers by DCE could be due to alterations in either the bioactivation or detoxication phases of DCE metabolism. Previous in vitro studies suggested that hyperthyroidism did not potentiate DCE hepatotoxicity by increasing DCE oxidation to intermediates which were able to covalently bind.

Trichloroethene-induced autoimmune response in female MRL +/+ mice.

Trichloroethene (TCE) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma in humans. However, experimental studies have not been conducted to establish the role of TCE in causing autoimmunity and/or SLE. To clarify the role of TCE in autoimmune responses, subchronic studies were carried out in female autoimmune prone mice (MRL +/+).

Infusion of bile from methylene dianiline-treated rats into the common bile duct injures biliary epithelial cells of recipient rats.

Methylene dianiline (4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, DAPM) rapidly causes cholestasis and injury to biliary epithelial cells (BEC) in the liver and common bile duct of rats. Our objective was to determine if the proximate toxicant(s) was present in bile. Bile from DAPM-treated or control rats was infused through the common bile duct of untreated rats via inflow and outflow cannulas for 4 h.

Biliary glutathione and some amino acids are markedly diminished when biliary pressure is elevated.

We studied the effects of a transient elevation in biliary pressure on biliary glutathione and amino acids in rats. Other biliary solutes monitored were total bile salt, Pi, which is a putative marker of paracellular leakage, and glucose, which is reabsorbed from the biliary tract. Experiments were carried out on anesthetized rats intraduodenally infused with taurocholate to maintain bile flow during a 2-hr basal period, a 4-hr pressure period during which the bile duct cannula was elevated until bile flow decreased to 1/3 the basal rate, and a 2-hr period after release of hydrostatic biliary pressure.

Hyperthyroidism increases covalent binding and biliary excretion of 1,1-dichloroethylene in rats.

Distribution, covalent binding, and biliary excretion of 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE) were examined in euthyroid (EuT) and hyperthyroid (HyperT) rats, which are more vulnerable to DCE hepatotoxicity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were made hyperthyroid by 3 sc injections of thyroxine at 48-h intervals prior to experiments; euthyroid controls received vehicle injections. A time course study monitored the circulation and excretion of 14C-DCE label for 24 h after administration of 14C-labeled DCE (50 mg/kg in mineral oil) in serial blood and urine samples.

Biliary excretion of marker solutes by rats with 1,1-dichloroethylene-induced bile canalicular injury.

Our objective was to characterize the effects of 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE, 50 mg/kg) on bile formation by freely moving rats. This toxicant provides a new tool to study structure-function associations because it selectively injures zone 3 bile canaliculi of fed rats. Ultrastructural changes included loss of microvilli from the canalicular membrane and membrane fragments within the dilated canalicular lumens.

Methylene dianiline: acute toxicity and effects on biliary function.

4,4'-Methylene dianiline (4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane, DAPM), which is used in the polymer industry, causes hepatobiliary damage in exposed humans. Our objectives were to characterize the acute toxicity of DAPM in liver, particularly on secretion of biliary constituents and on biliary epithelial cell gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. Biliary cannulas were positioned in Sprague-Dawley male rats under pentobarbital anesthesia.

Biliary endogenous inorganic phosphate, D-glucose, IgA and transferrin are differentially altered by hydrostatic pressure.

Our objective was to determine the effects of hydrostatic biliary pressure on excretion patterns of endogenous solutes which reflect various pathways of bile formation. A stable in vivo model was developed using anesthetized rats intraduodenally infused with taurocholate to maintain bile flow. Bile was collected during a 2-h basal period, a 4-h pressure period where elevation of the bile duct cannula decreased bile flow to 1/3 the basal rate, and a 2-h period after release of hydrostatic biliary pressure.

Biliary function studies during multiple time periods in freely moving rats. A useful system and set of marker solutes.

Biliary output of endogenous and exogenous compounds is altered by anesthesia, depletion of bile salts, and hydrostatic pressure. The described system for bile function studies minimizes these confounding factors by substantially modifying existing methods. Experiments were conducted in freely moving rats which eliminates effects of anesthesia or restraint-induced stress.

Ninety day toxicity study of chloroacetic acids in rats.

Chloroacetic acids are produced in drinking water as a result of disinfection processes. Chloroacetic acids are also metabolites of widely used and toxic halogenated hydrocarbons. Thus, chronic human exposure to these chemicals is likely to occur.

1,1-Dichloroethylene hepatotoxicity: hypothyroidism decreases metabolism and covalent binding but not injury in the rat.

Our objective was to determine if the previously reported protective effect of hypothyroidism against 1,1-dichloroethylene hepatotoxicity was associated with a change in distribution and covalent binding. Sprague-Dawley male rats were made hypothyroid (HypoT) by surgical thyroidectomy 2 weeks prior to studies and compared to euthyroid (EuT) rats. Hypothyroidism decreased body weights and liver to body weight ratios while mitochondrial non-protein sulfhydryl groups and cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase activities were increased by 50%.

Histochemical and immunocytochemical evidence of early, selective bile canaliculi injury after 1,1-dichloroethylene in rats.

Canalicular and mitochondrial membranes were investigated as early foci of hepatocyte injury in fed and fasted male Sprague-Dawley rats given 50 mg of 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE)/kg. Staining of the bile canaliculi localized enzymes, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and Mg++-dependent ATPase (Mg++-ATPase), was examined by histochemistry in frozen sections. Mitochondrial membrane enzymes, including succinate dehydrogenase, also were examined by histochemistry.

Protection by L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate, a cysteine prodrug, against 1,1-dichloroethylene hepatotoxicity in rats is associated with decreases in toxin metabolism and cytochrome P-450.

Our objective was to determine if the intracellular cysteine precursor, L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTZ), would protect rats against the hepatotoxicity of 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE) by altering the toxin's biologic fate. Fasted male rats were pretreated with 10 mmol of OTZ per kg s.c.

The use of a silastic shield to protect an externalized biliary cannula.

A simple shield made of a folded silastic sheet is described for the protection of the externalized portion of a permanent biliary cannula in rats. Advantages of this shield are its light weight, flexibility, transparency, and ease of resealing for repeated interruption of hepatobiliary circulation. Since the shield is positioned around rather than being a segment of the cannula, a single length of tubing can be used.

Two cannula method for parenteral infusion and serial blood sampling in the freely moving rat.

Materials and techniques are described for positioning and exteriorizing two chronic venous cannulas in the rat. A cannula for fluid infusion is placed in the inferior vena cava via the femoral vein and exteriorized on the tail, whereas a cannula for blood withdrawal is placed in the superior vena cava and exteriorized in the scapular region. Grooming behavior and range of motion are not impeded since the cannula used for chronic infusion is shielded by a light-weight tail cover instead of a torso harness.