Inhibition by polyhalogenated hydrocarbons (PHHC) of ATPases in plasma membranes of parenchymal liver cells.

Suspensions of freshly prepared plasma membranes from rat livers were equilibrated with defined mixtures of air with polyhalogenated hydro-carbons (PHHC) at 37 degrees C. During the exposition enzymatic degradation of ATP was inhibited by carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and halothane in a dose-dependent manner. On a molar basis carbon tetrachloride was 5 times more effective than chloroform and halothane. The inhibition was partially reversible. Diethyldithiocarbamate, an agent protecting animals against carbon tetrachloride, was ineffective in this assay.