Inhibition of carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity by dantrolene sodium

A 50 mg/kg dose of dantrolene sodium decreased the hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride in fed and fasted rats, as indicated by lower levels of SGPT following a toxic dose of carbon tetrachloride; however, the dantrolene sodium pretreatment did not inhibit the induction of lipid peroxidation by carbon tetrachloride. The dantrolene sodium did inhibit superoxide production by the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum in fasted rats. Also, the dantrolene sodium inhibited covalent binding of [14C] carbon tetrachloride to the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum in fasted rats, but not in fed rats.