Biochemical profiles of rat primary cultured hepatocytes following treatment with rotenone, FCCP, or (+)-usnic acid.

The metabolomic profiles of rat primary hepatocytes following treatment with rotenone, FCCP, or (+)-usnic acid were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Significant and similar changes in the levels of 283 biochemical metabolites were associated with the three treatments compared with solvent control samples. Overall, the three treatments generated similar global biochemical profiles, with some minor differences associated with rotenone treatment. All three treatments resulted in a shift in energy metabolism as demonstrated by decreased glycogen stores and glycolysis. A reduced antioxidant response was detected in cells following all treatments. In addition, bile acid biosynthesis decreased as a potential consequence of increased oxidative stress by all three treatments. Conversely, rotenone treatment induced a number of changes after 1 hr, which were not detected in FCCP- or (+)-usnic acid-treated samples; these changes were not sustained over time and included increased NAD+ salvage and lysine degradation. In conclusion, these biochemical profiles could provide new insights into the mechanism(s) of mitochondrial toxicity.