PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - V. L. KUBIC
AU  - M. W. ANDERS
AU  - ROLF R. ENGEL
AU  - C. H. BARLOW
AU  - W. S. CAUGHEY
TI  - METABOLISM OF DIHALOMETHANES TO CARBON MONOXIDE
DP  - 1974 Jan 01
TA  - Drug Metabolism and Disposition
PG  - 53--57
VI  - 2
IP  - 1
4099  - http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/2/1/53.short
4100  - http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/2/1/53.full
SO  - Drug Metab Dispos1974 Jan 01; 2
AB  - Administration of dihalomethanes to rats resulted in the formation of carbon monoxide as evidenced by elevated levels of carboxyhemoglobin. An intraperitoneal dose of 3.0 mmoles of dichloromethane per kg yielded a maximum carboxyhemoglobin level of about 8% at 2 hr. Corresponding values for dibromomethane were 14% saturation at 4-5 hr, whereas diiodomethane produced a maximal carboxyhemoglobin level of 8% at about 3 hr. Bromochloromethane gave a maximum saturation of about 5% occurring at 4 hr. No other one-carbon compound studied resulted in elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels. Prior administration of phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene produced no appreciable alterations in carboxyhemoglobin levels; SKF 525-A also failed to alter carboxyhemoglobin levels. However, the repeated administration of dichloromethane, but not dibromomethane, resulted in a substantial increase in carboxyhemoglobin levels over those seen in rats given a single dose. In order to determine the source of the carbon monoxide, 13C-dichloromethane (60 atom % 13C) was administered to rats, and 13C-carbon monoxide was found to be formed, which proves that dichloromethane is metabolized to carbon monoxide. Copyright © 1974 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics