PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF DIETHYLDITHIOCARBAMATE PRETREATMENT ON CHROMIUM (VI)-INDUCED CYTOTOXICITY AND LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN PRIMARY CULTURES OF RAT HEPATOCYTES

Pretreatment of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes with sodium diethy ldithiocarbamate (DDTC) for 15 min prior to exposure to K2Cr2O7 result ed in a marked decrease in dichromate-induced cytotoxicity, as evaluat ed by the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, and in lipid peroxidation, as monitored by malondialdehyde formation. Tn addition, pretreatment with DDTC attenuated the suppression of the level of vitamin E attribu ted to K2Cr2O7. However, DDTC pretreatment had no effect on the cellul ar levels of glutathione or vitamin C or on the activity of the glutat hione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase or alkal ine phosphatase suppressed by dichromate. Under the same experimental conditions, cellular uptake or distribution of chromium was not affect ed by DDTC. These results indicate that the protective effect of DDTC on chromium (VI)-induced cytotoxicity as well as lipid peroxidation ma y be associated with the level of nonenzymatic antioxidants such as vi tamin E.