Oxidative stress acid DNA damage in Fischer rats following acute exposure to trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene

Oxidative DNA damage is emerging as an biomarker of effect in studies asses sing the health risks of occupational chemicals. Trichloroethylene (TCE) an d perchloroethylene (PERC) are used in the dry cleaning industry and their metabolism can produce reactive oxygen compounds. The present study examine d the potential for TCE and PERC to induce oxidative DNA damage in rats tha t was detectable as increased urinary excretion of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG). Thiobarbaturic acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 8-epi-prostagl andin F-2 alpha (8epiPGF) were also measured as biomarkers of increased oxi dative stress. Male Fischer rats were administered a single i.p. injection of 0, 100, 500, or 1000 mg/kg of PERC or TCE. Control rats received only ve hicle (1:4 v/v of Alkamuls/water). A positive control group received 100 mg /kg 2-nitropropane (2NP). Rats were sacrificed 24 h after dosing. In rats r eceiving 2NP or TCE but not PERC, TEARS and the 8OHdG/dG ratios were signif icantly elevated in liver. Lymphocyte 8OHdG/dG was not affected significant ly by 2NP, TCE or PERC. In rats receiving 2NP, urinary excretion of 8OHdG a nd 8epiPGF2 were significantly increased. In rats receiving TCE or PERC, si gnificant increases in 8epiPGF2 or 8OHdG were not evident. Results indicate that a single high dose of TCE, but not PERC, can induce an increase in ox idative DNA damage in rat liver. However, the usefulness of 8OHdG as a biom arker of TCE-induced oxidative DNA damage is questionable. (C) 1999 Publish ed by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.