Protective effects of trolox C, vitamin C, and catalase on bromobenzene-induced damage to rat hepatocytes

Background/Methods: The protective effects of trolox C (water-soluble vitamin E), vitamin C, and catalase on bromobenzene (BB)-induced toxicity to isolated rat hepatocytes were evaluated. The glutathione (GSH) content of the hepatocytes exposed to BE was measured. Results: BE caused acute damage to the cells during 2 h of incubation (short) when BE was added directly to the culture wells, whereas a late-occurring and time-dependent increase in Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate was observed during 24 h of incubation (long) when BE was dissolved in a different way. Incubation of the cells with trolox C (0.5-2.0 mM) prevented the hepatocellular damage induced by BE at 2.4 mM during the long-term incubation. Vitamin C (0.1-1.0 mM) had a protective effect on BE-induced toxicity during both the short- (BE, 1.6 mM) and the long- (BB, 2.4 mM) term incubations. Catalase (3200 U/ml) also showed a beneficial effect on the cells during the short-term BE exposure. Trolox C (2.0 mM) and vitamin C (0.5 mM) restored BE-induced GSH depletion in the cells. Conclusions: BE induced two patterns of LDH leakage from isolated hepatocytes on the basis of different ways of BE exposure and incubation periods. Trolox C, vitamin C, and catalase exerted protective effects on BE-induced toxicity during short- or/and long-term incubations. The effects were concentration-dependent. Restoration of GSH content in BE-exposed hepatocytes suggests that trolox C and vitamin C could reduce GSH consumption during BE metabolism and exert an antioxidant effect.