THE INTERACTION OF TOPICALLY APPLIED TOLUENE AND AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE ON O-2 UPTAKE OF TISSUE-HOMOGENATES

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (1) , 95-102
Abstract
The role of toluene in temperature-cancer experiments, where it was used as a solvent for benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), was examined. Toluene (0.08 ml/wk topically) and ambient temperature (cool Ta = 16.degree. C, normal Ta = 23.degree. C and warm Ta = 32.degree. C) interacted to affect O2 uptake of [mouse] tissue homogenates. After 3.5 wk of acclimation and 2 wk of toluene (0.16 ml total), O2 uptake of muscle homogenates was elevated 32% for all Ta; O2 uptake of skin homogenates was elevated 139% for all Ta. O2 uptake of liver homogenates was elevated 665% in cool Ta, elevated 36% in normal Ta but depressed 50% in warm Ta. The pattern of liver homogenate O2 uptake is similar to that for tumorigenesis when BaP is dissolved in the toluene, although toluene alone is nontumorigenic. Common cellular mechanisms may be involved in the metabolism of toluene, the activation of BaP and thermogenic acclimation.

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