Effect of inducers of DT-diaphorase on the toxicity of 2-methyl- and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to rats.

It has previously been shown that rats pre-treated with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a well-known inducer of the enzyme DT-diaphorase, are protected against the toxic effects of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone but are made more susceptible to the harmful action of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. In the present experiments, the effects of BHA have been compared with those of other inducers of DT-diaphorase. Rats were dosed with BHA, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ethoxyquin (EQ), dimethyl fumarate (DMF) or disulfiram (DIS) and then challenged with a toxic dose of the naphthoquinones. All the inducers protected against the haemolytic anaemia induced by 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone in rats, with BHA, BHT and EQ being somewhat more effective than DMF and DIS. A similar order of activity was recorded in the relative ability of these substances to increase hepatic activities of DT-diaphorase, consistent with a role for this enzyme in facilitating conjugation and excretion of this naphthoquinone. In contrast, all the compounds increased the haemolytic activity of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. DMF and DIS were significantly more effective in this regard than BHA, BHT and EQ. DMF and DIS also caused a much greater increase in levels of DT-diaphorase in the intestine, suggesting that 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone is activated by this enzyme in the gut. BHA, BHT and EQ had no effect on the nephrotoxicity of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, but the severity of the renal lesions was decreased in rats pre-treated with DMF and DIS. The results of the present experiments show that modulation of tissue levels of DT-diaphorase may not only alter the severity of naphthoquinone toxicity in vivo, but may also change the relative toxicity of these substances to different target organs.