Metabolism of n-hexane by rat liver and extrahepatic tissues and the effect of cytochrome P-450 inducers

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Abstract
1 The in vitro metabolism ofn-hexane was studied in rat liver, lung, brain and skeletal muscle microsomes and in microsomes prepared from cell lines expressing human cytochrome P-450 2E1 or 2B6. The hydro xylated metabolites ofn-hexane were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectometry. 2 Rat liver and extensor digitorum longus (EDL, fast- twitch skeletal muscle) microsomes and the CYP 2B6 microsomes produced the pre-neurotoxic metabolite of n-hexane, 2-hexanol as a major metabolite in contrast to the other rat tissues examined. 3 Inhibition of 2- and 3-hexanol production from n- hexane by rat lung microsomes using metyrapone, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 2B1 activity, resulted in almost complete inhibition of lung microsomal activ ity. 4 Production of all three hexanols was significantly increased with phenobarbital-induced rat liver micro somes, with a 10-fold increase in 2- and 3-hexanol production. A slight increase in 2-hexanol production with phenobarbital-induced rat EDL and brain micro somes was observed. No increase in n-hexane meta bolism was noted following induction with β- naphthoflavone or with ethanol.