The microsomal metabolism of the organometallic derivatives of the group-IV elements, germanium, tin and lead

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Abstract
NADPH- and O2-dependent microsomal metabolism of the di-, tri- and tetra-ethyl-substituted derivatives of Ge, Sn and Pb gave rise to ethylene as a major product and ethane as a minor product in rats. These reactions were catalyzed by liver microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase. Since formation of ethane and ethylene was differentially inhibited by anaerobiosis, results suggested that a large portion of the ethane produced was derived by a reductive mechanism. Triethyltin bromide in the absence and presence of NADPH converted cytochrome P-450 into cytochrome P-420 and affected the function of monooxygenase in vitro. Tetraethyltin caused NADPH- and time-dependent formation of cytochrome P-420, suggesting that tetraethyltin was converted into triethyltin salts in significant concentrations. The order of potency in formation of cytochrome P-420 was closely paralleled by the ability of Sn derivatives to induce microsomal lipid peroxidation in vitro.