Influence of Some Thiol Compounds on the CCl₄ Hepatotoxicity

Abstract

Potassium ethylxanthogenate, Unithiol and diethyldithiocarbamate have been investigated as antidotes against CCl₄ poisoning. Ethylxanthogenate (80 mg/kg p.o. or i.p.) manifests a good antidotal effect upon peroral poisoning of rats with CCl₄, saving between 80 and 100 per cent of the animals, at a death rate of 100% for the controls. The best effect is obtained when xantho-genate is administered 1 h before CCl₄. Taken in equimolar ratios it is a more effective antidote than dithiocarbamate. Unithiol has no antidotal effect on CCl₄ poisoning.

Ethylxanthogenate reduces the fatty infiltration of the liver upon CCl₄ poisoning and prevents the elevation of the enzyme activity of SGOT and SGPT. It prevents also the increase of the lipid peroxidation in the liver microsomes and mitochondria of CCl₄ poisoned rats.

Ethylxanthogenate and diethyldithiocarbamate, given subcutaneously, slightly increase the CCl₄ content in the liver and the brain of CCl₄ poisoned rats, whereas unithiol, which has no protective effect, slightly decreases it.

Probably the antidotal effect of ethylxantogenate and diethyldithiocarbamate is due to the inhibition of the CCl₄ metabolism to hepatotoxic free radicals.