Enhanced hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride following sodium nitrite pretreatment.

The administration of sodium nitrite (60 mg/kg, s.c.) 30 min prior to carbon tetrachloride intoxication (2 ml/kg, p.o.) significantly enhanced the rise in serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase. Sodium nitrite pretreatment also enhanced the carbon tetrachloride-induced decrease in hepatic microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase activity. Microsomal diene conjugation absorption indicative of microsomal lipid peroxidation was observed following carbon tetrachloride intoxication, but was not altered by sodium nitrite pretreatment. The data indicate a potentially toxic interaction between sodium nitrite-induced methemoglobinemia and carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury.