Benzene metabolism in rodent hepatocytes: role of sulphate conjugation.

1. Hepatocytes isolated from the adult male NMRI mouse or Wistar rat were incubated for 1 h with 0.5 mM 14C-benzene, the supernatant was separated from the cells, and analysed for benzene metabolites. Separately, formation of sulphate conjugates during benzene metabolism was studied in hepatocytes in the presence of 35S-sulphate. In addition sulphate conjugation of the benzene metabolites hydroquinone and 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene was investigated in mouse liver cytosol supplemented with 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phospho-35S-sulphate. 2. Two novel metabolites, not detectable in rat hepatocyte incubations, were found in mouse hepatocytes, and were identified as 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene sulphate and hydroquinone sulphate. Formation of the 35S-labelled conjugates could be demonstrated in incubations of mouse liver cytosol with hydroquinone or 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene supplemented with 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phospho-35S-sulphate, and in mouse hepatocytes incubated with benzene and 35S-sulphate. 3. In comparison with hepatocytes from the Wistar rat, hepatocytes from the NMRI mouse were almost three times more effective in metabolizing benzene. The higher formation of hydroquinone, and the formation of trihydroxybenzene sulphate and hydroquinone sulphate, mainly contributed to the higher rate of benzene metabolism. 4. In conclusion, qualitative and quantitative differences in benzene metabolism may contribute to the higher susceptibility of mouse towards the myelotoxic and leucaemogenic action of benzene.