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Title: Reduction of hepatic tetrahydrofolate and inhibition of exhalation of /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ formed from (dimethylamino-/sup 14/C)aminopyrine in nitrous oxide-treated rats

Journal Article · · Hepatology (N.Y.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5776236

The exhalation of /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ after the administration of (dimethylamino-/sup 14/C)aminopyrine to an organism is assumed to reflect the demethylation of aminopyrine by hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity. The last step in the pathway, i.e., formate oxidation, is dependent upon tetrahydrofolate; thus, factors which alter hepatic tetrahydrofolate potentially may modify /sup 14/C-aminopyrine metabolism to /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ in vivo. Exposure of rats to nitrous oxide (N/sub 2/O) produces a significant reduction in hepatic tetrahydrofolate as a result of the inhibition of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate:homocysteine methyltransferase activity (E.C. 2.1.1.13). In the present study, exposure of rats to N/sub 2/O/O/sub 2/ (1:1) for 4 hr prior to the administration of /sup 14/C-aminopyrine (40 or 400 mumoles per kg) produced a 60% reduction in the peak rate of /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ exhalation and a 45% decrease in the total /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ exhaled within 2 hr. Aminopyrine (400 mumoles per kg) administration to air-breathing rats did not affect the level of urinary formate, but exposure to N/sub 2/O produced a 40-fold increase. Aminopyrine administration to N/sub 2/O-exposed rats produced a 75% increase in urinary formate as compared to rats treated with N/sub 2/O alone.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City
OSTI ID:
5776236
Journal Information:
Hepatology (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 4:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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