Toxicity studies of a synthetic antioxidant, 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol) in rats. 2. Uncoupling effect on oxidative phosphorylation of liver mitochondria.

Effects of 2,2'-methylenebis (4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol) (MBEBP) on hepatic mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in vitro, and on hepatic peroxisomal enzymes activities and microsomal mixed-function oxidase activities were studied. 1. A low concentration of MBEBP, less than 50 microM, increased state 4 respiration and decreased state 3 respiration. However, a higher concentration of MBEBP, greater than 100 microM, acted as a respiratory inhibitor. Therefore, MBEBP was found to act as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria. 2. MBEBP significantly decreased peroxisomal enzymes, cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidizing activity and catalase activity in the livers of rats fed 0.2, 1.0 or 5.0% MBEBP for 4 weeks. 3. In microsomal enzyme assay, NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity was significantly increased, however, cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5 levels, aminopyrine N-demethylase and benzo [a] pyrene hydroxylase activities were not significantly increased in the livers of rats fed 1.0 or 5.0% MBEBP for 4 weeks. The weight loss and the decrease of serum triglyceride level observed in the MBEBP-treated rats seemed to be caused by its uncoupling effects, which might also be the cause of the testicular damage induced by MBEBP.