PERFLUORODECANOIC ACID AS A USEFUL PHARMACOLOGICAL TOOL FOR THE STUDYOF PEROXISOME PROLIFERATION

The phenomena of peroxisome proliferation in rodent liver has received considerable attention due to its association with hepatocellular car cinoma. Chemicals that cause peroxisome proliferation include several structurally unrelated hypolipidemic drugs, phthalate esters and halog enated solvents. The mechanism by which peroxisome proliferators exert their beneficial (hypolipidemia) as well as their toxic (cancer) effe cts is still largely unknown, Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) is a poten t peroxisome proliferator in rodent liver that resembles other members of this chemical class in many aspects, including its effects on gene expression and fatty acid metabolism. However, there are many dissimi larities between PFDA and hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators that have not been extensively explored. PFDA is unlike other peroxisome pr oliferators in parent compound metabolism, hypolipidemia, and tumor pr omotion. The present review article will discuss what is currently kno wn about PFDA and how it may be utilized to dissect the mechanism of a ction of an important group of hypolipidemic drug and environmental po llutant, the peroxisome proliferators. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Sci ence Inc.