2-Ethylhexanoic acid inhibits urea synthesis and stimulates carnitine acetyltransferase activity in rat liver mitochondria.

Adult male 3-month-old Wistar rats were given 0, 100 mg/l, 1, 5 or 10 g/l 2-ethylhexanoic acid in their drinking water for 20 days. Their daily consumption of contaminated water was measured and compared with the free acid found in their 24-h urine samples. The excretion was dose and time dependent. At the termination of the experiment, liver mitochondrial carnitine acetyltransferase activity was induced dose dependently and the citrulline synthesis in the urea cycle inhibited. Our results compare very well with the toxicity of a structural congener of the 2-ethylhexanoic acid, i.e. valproate, an antiepileptic drug.