[Interaction of perfluoroctylbromide with liver microsomal monooxygenase]

Perfluorooctylbromide (PFOB), a constituent component of gas-transporting fluorocarbon emulsions, liberates bromide ions when PFOB undergoes NADPH-dependent metabolism by liver microsomal monooxygenase. The PFOB emulsion injected to rats decreases the liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 level down to 80% of control. Induction of the "phenobarbital" isoforms of cytochrome P-450 (cytochrome P-450 II B1/B2) after administration of PFOB is much weaker than that after administration of the perfluorodecalin emulsion. It is suggested that the anomalous cytochrome P-450-inductive properties of PFOB may be associated with its ability to be metabolized by liver microsomal monooxygenase. In these terms, the generally accepted viewpoint about the biological inertness and unchangeability within the organism of perfluorochemicals containing heteroatoms (N, O, H and others) and double bonds, needs further verification and experiment.