Inhibition of Ca2+ sequestration in foetal liver microsomes by carbon tetrachloride and bromotrichloromethane

The purpose of the present work is to establish to what extent the calcium uptake of foetal liver microsomes can be modified, as in the adult, by classical hepatotoxins. The administration of liver toxins (BrCCl3, CCl4) to the pregnant rat or their addition to foetal and maternal liver microsome preparations causes a decrease in the level of cytochrome P-450 and a drop in the calcium storage capacity of microsomes. Lipid peroxidation of membrane phospholipids is observed in the mother but not in the foetus. On the 20th day of gestation, the foetal liver shows cytochrome P-450 dependent metabolic activity and constitutes a good model illustrating the hypothesis of calcium pump inhibition by .CCl3 radicals without lipoperoxidation.