Preliminary characterization of phospholipid adducts formed by [14C]-CHCl3 reactive intermediates in hepatocyte suspensions.

The adducts produced in vitro by the reactive metabolites of [14C]-chloroform with total phospholipids (PLs) of freshly isolated hepatocytes have been characterized. The radical metabolite formed several adducts with all the major PL classes. These adducts seemed very likely to result from the unspecific attack of the radical on the PL fatty acyl chains. [14C]-Chloroform-derived phosgene caused the formation of a single PL adduct characterized by a ratio 14C:P of 1:4. This adduct was tentatively identified as an adduct of phosgene with two molecules of cardiolipin.