A CCl4/CHCl3 interaction study in isolated hepatocytes: non-induced and phenobarbital-pretreated cells

The purpose of this study was to evaluate an isolated hepatocyte model for predicting the in vivo hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and chloroform (CHCl3), alone and in combination. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to analyze and describe the data. The interaction was evaluated for % initial K+ (cell injury) and % LDH leakage (cell death) in non-induced (untreated) and phenobarbital-pretreated suspended hepatocytes. CCl4 and CHCl3 were delivered alone and in combination in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to suspended hepatocytes. The maximum observed no-effect level (MONEL) for CCl4 in non-induced cells was 1.0 mM (LDH and K+). In induced cells, the MONEL was 0.25 mM (K+) and 0.5 mM (LDH). The MONEL for CHCl3 in non-induced cells was 5.0 mM (LDH and K+) and in induced cells was 0.5 mM (K+) and 1.0 mM (LDH). Phenobarbital pretreatment enhanced the toxicity of both CCl4 and CHCl3, alone and in combination. RSM analysis of the % initial K+ and % LDH for CCl4 and CHCl3 in combination in noninduced and induced cells showed a greater than additive interaction. The isolated hepatocyte model appears to be a promising system for evaluating the toxicity of chemical mixtures and predicting their in vivo effects.