Culture medium composition affects the relative toxicities of chlorobenzenes in rat liver slices and the isolated perfused liver.

The effects of different media composition on the hepatotoxicity produced by monochlorobenzene (MCB), 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB), 1,3-dichlorobenzene (1,3-DCB) and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) were examined in two different in vitro systems. The toxicity of these chlorobenzenes was investigated in the perfused rat liver and liver slices using Krebs-Henseleit buffer. Significant differences between the chlorobenzenes were apparent in the perfused liver but not in the tissue slices. However, a dose and time related response of rat liver slices to the chlorobenzenes was observed. Partial amelioration of the chlorobenzene toxicity was observed when the Krebs-Henseleit buffer was supplemented with vitamins, amino acids, and/or bovine serum albumin. 1,2-DCB and 1,3-DCB toxicity was affected by amino acids and vitamins. The toxicity produced by 1,4-DCB was suppressed by amino acids, vitamins and 1% BSA. MCB hepatoxicity could only be suppressed by 1% BSA. This data suggests that tissue culture media composition plays a major role in the hepatotoxicity of the chlorobenzenes.