Hepatotoxicity of trichloroethylene-carbon tetrachloride mixtures in rats. A possible consequence of the potentiation by trichloroethylene of carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation and liver lesions.

Liver histology was normal 24 h after the administration of trichloroethylene (1 ml . kg-1) in rats. It was normal, or showed necrosis of a few hepatocytes, after the administration of carbon tetrachloride (64 microliters . kg-1). In rats receiving both solvents, there was extensive centrilobular necrosis. In vitro, trichloroethylene did not initiate lipid peroxidation but potentiated that initiated by carbon tetrachloride; a similar potentiating effect was observed for a wide range of trichloroethylene concentrations (0.19-12 mM). In vivo, a wide range of trichloroethylene doses (0.064-1 ml . kg-1) similarly potentiated the hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride. Administration of trichloroethylene (1 ml . kg-1), 5 h earlier, increased carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation in vitro, and increased the hepatotoxicity of a subsequent dose of carbon tetrachloride (64 microliters . kg-1). Previous administration of carbon tetrachloride failed to modify lipid peroxidation and to increase the hepatotoxicity of trichloroethylene. We conclude that trichloroethylene potentiates the hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride, possibly by increasing carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation.