Effects of extended peroral borate ingestion on rat liver and brain

2-Month-old male Wistar rats were given sodium tetraborate in drinking water (3 g/l). Cerebral succinate dehydrogenase activity increased after 10 and 14 weeks of exposure. Increased RNA concentration and increased acid proteinase activity in brain occurred after 14 weeks. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and cytochrome b5 content decreased in the liver microsomal fraction after 10 and 14 weeks. A reduction in the cytochrome P-450 concentration was detected at 14 weeks. The results support the hypothesis that borate anion exerts its toxic action by interfering with flavin metabolism in flavoprotein-dependent pathways.