Ethanol inhibition of vinyl chloride metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes

Isolated rat liver cells convert [14C]vinyl chloride into non-volatile metabolites. The metabolism is not increased by in vivo pretreatment with phenobarbital. It is sensitive to inhibition by ethanol, which at a concentration of 4 mM inhibits vinyl chloride metabolism to 50% in hepatocyte suspensions. The metabolic activity is NADPH-dependent and is localized in the microsomal fraction of the liver. The enzyme is also strongly inhibited by tetrahydrofuran, indicating that it could be identical to an ethanol-inducible cytochrome P-450 described in the literature [1].