Role of iron and copper during benzene toxicity.

Role of transition metal ions in expression of benzene toxicity has been suggested. Intraperitoneal administration of benzene to female albino rats daily for 10 days resulted in accumulation of iron in liver nuclei, without any change in copper content. Incubation of hydroquinone (HQ), one of the principal metabolites of benzene with rat liver nuclei resulted in formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive products (TBAR). However, presence of bathocuproine, a copper chelator and EDTA, an iron chelator caused significant inhibition of TBAR release. Thus, the present study revealed that iron accumulation and involvement of copper in nuclear damage induced by HQ.