[Effects of methyl tertiary-butyl ether on hepatic lipid peroxidation in mice]

The effect of one-shot or repeated treatment with methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) on lipid peroxidation and cytochrome P-450 in mouse liver was examined. One-shot treatment at the 500 mg/kg dose level caused a transient decrease in leukocyte number after 24 h. An increased level of lipid peroxide was observed in the liver homogenates 24 h after one-shot treatment and four weeks of repeated 200 mg/kg treatment. The hepatic cytochrome P-450 content increased after one and four weeks of repeated treatment (50, 200 mg/kg). On the other hand, the treatment did not affect glutathione content and glutathione-S-transferase activity. These results indicate that MTBE treatment caused lipid peroxidation in the liver homogenate and induction of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 content.