RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The covalent binding to protein of valproic acid and its hepatotoxic metabolite, 2-n-propyl-4-pentenoic acid, in rats and in isolated rat hepatocytes. JF Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO Drug Metab Dispos FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 123 OP 130 VO 17 IS 2 A1 D J Porubek A1 M P Grillo A1 T A Baillie YR 1989 UL http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/17/2/123.abstract AB The covalent binding of radioactivity to protein following administration of 14C-labeled analogs of valproic acid (VPA) and a hepatotoxic metabolite thereof, 2-n-propyl-4-pentenoic acid (delta 4-VPA), was investigated in male rats. Covalent binding occurred in a number of tissues, the level of binding being greatest to proteins in liver for each compound. Moreover, the binding of radioactivity from delta 4-VPA to hepatic macromolecules was higher than the corresponding value for VPA. When radiolabeled VPA and delta 4-VPA were incubated with rat hepatocytes, radiolabel again became bound to cellular proteins, the time-course of which suggested the existence of at least two underlying mechanisms. Thus, after initial rapid binding of both substrates, a secondary slow phase was evident, which favored binding of delta 4-VPA. Although phenobarbital pretreatment of rats had little effect on the covalent binding of either substrate to isolated hepatocytes, clofibrate pretreatment markedly enhanced the covalent binding of both VPA and delta 4-VPA to these cells. In contrast, the covalent binding of VPA and delta 4-VPA was suppressed strongly by 4-pentenoic acid, a potent inhibitor of beta-oxidation, but was not affected by metyrapone, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 activity. (-)-Borneol and 8-bromo-cAMP, two inhibitors of glucuronidation, acted to decrease the binding of both substrates, although this inhibition was evident only in the early stages of incubation. A similar effect was seen with valeric acid, the saturated analog of 4-pentenoic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)