Phosgene: a possible role in the potentiation of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity by 2-propanol

The metabolism of carbon tetrachloride to chloroform, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and phosgene, as well as carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation was studied in control, 2-propanol-, and phenobarbital-treated rats. Different effects were observed following 2-propanol and phenobarbital treatments. 2-Propanol treatment increased phosgene formation but had no effect on carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation, while phenobarbital treatment had no effect on phosgene formation and potentiated carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation. These data suggest that 2-propanol and phenobarbital treatments alter either the activity or composition of constitutive forms of cytochrome P-450 responsible for the metabolism of carbon tetrachloride and, in addition, suggest that phosgene may play a role in 2-propanol potentiation of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity.