[Influence of 2-dimethylaminoethanol on the hepatotoxicity of paracetamol in rats and mice (author's transl)].

2-Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE; 0.1--0.5 g/kg) significantly reduced the paracetamol-induced increments of serum-enzyme activities (GOT, GPT, SDH) in rats and mice. This hepatoprotective effect of DMAE depended on the applied dose in rats, but there was no complete protection following the highest dose. Paracetamol-induced depletion of hepatic glutathione (GSH) was not influenced by the simultaneous administration of DMAE in rats and mice. Metabolic disposition of paracetamol in the urine of rats showed an enhanced elimination of free paracetamol and the glucuronide in the DMAE-treated group, whereas the mercapturate excretion remained unchanged. Diminished p-hydroxylation of aniline in a 9000Xg supernatant of rat and mouse liver homogenates in the presence of DMAE indicated an inhibition of microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity, which is also involved in the metabolic activation of paracetamol.