Chlorinated ethylenes: their metabolism and effect on DNA repair in rat hepatocytes

The major initial metabolites of the chlorinated ethylenes in hepatocyte suspensions isolated from phenobarbital treated rats were as follows (rates of metabolite production in nmol/10(6) cells/min are given in brackets): vinylidene chloride, dichloroacetic acid (0.015); cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, 2,2-dichloroethanol (0.24); trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, dichloroacetic acid (0.005); trichloroethylene, chloral hydrate (2.7); tetrachloroethylene, trichloroacetic acid (0.08). Comparison of the metabolism of the chlorinated ethylenes by isolated hepatocyte suspensions and hepatic microsomes indicates that the initial products of the three dichlorinated ethylenes from cytochrome P-450 in hepatic microsomes are rapidly and extensively metabolized in the hepatocyte, where the Phase II enzymes are present. In contrast, the initial metabolites of trichloroethylene and of tetrachloroethylene in the two systems are identical. The abilities of the chlorinated ethylenes to induce unscheduled DNA synthesis was assessed in isolated hepatocytes using a method which does not require the blocking of semi-conservative DNA synthesis. Vinylidene chloride, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene and trichloroethylene induced unscheduled DNA synthesis, while trans-1,2-dichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene did not.