The potential involvement of sulfite, an obligatory intermediate in the metabolism of carbon disulfide (CS2) to sulfate, in CS2-induced hepatotoxicity in phenobarbital-pretreated rats was investigated. The activity of mitochondrial sulfite oxidase, which is the primary route for the oxidation of sulfite to sulfate, was decreased 78% by a regimen consisting of a low molybdenum diet and drinking water supplemented with tungstate. These rats also had 30% less cytochrome P-450 than those maintained on the control regimen. The dietary regimen did not enhance CS2-induced toxicity but, rather, provided some degree of protection, which was probably due to the decreased amount of cytochrome P-450. Hence, sulfite does not appear to be involved in CS2-induced hepatotoxicity in the rat.
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