In vitro cytotoxicity of allyl alcohol and bromobenzene in a novel organ culture system

Two well-known hepatotoxicants, allyl alcohol (AA) and bromobenzene (BB), were studied using an in vitro system of cultured liver slices from control and phenobarbital-treated rats, respectively. Dose- and time-dependent increases in media lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and decreases in slice K⁺ content and in protein synthesis were observed in rat liver slices incubated with either compound at concentrations between 0.1 and 1 mm over a period of 6 hr. The histopathological changes which occurred in the intoxicated slices appeared to parallel these biochemical changes. Additionally, the toxicity of either BB or AA, evaluated at 4 hr, was inhibited when slices were preincubated for 30 min with β-ethyl-2,2-diphenylvalerate hydrochloride (SKF 525-A) (0.1 mm) or pyrazole (1.0 mm), respectively. In this in vitro incubation system the cytotoxicity of xenobiotics can be studied under conditions where the multicellular hepatic lobular architecture is partially maintained, and alterations in biochemical and functional processes may be correlated to pathological changes.