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A reappraisal of the proposed metabolic and antioxidant actions of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in the liver
Author(s) -
Castro Lorena dos Santos,
Bracht Lívia,
Comar Jurandir Fernando,
Peralta Rosane Marina,
Bracht Adelar
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.526
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0461
pISSN - 1095-6670
DOI - 10.1002/jbt.21924
Subject(s) - butylated hydroxytoluene , chemistry , antioxidant , mitochondrion , oxidative phosphorylation , reactive oxygen species , gluconeogenesis , biochemistry , stimulation , fructose , oxygen , metabolism , endocrinology , medicine , biology , organic chemistry
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was investigated for its metabolic actions in the perfused rat liver. Contrary to what is expected from an uncoupler, BHT up to 500 μM did not stimulate oxygen uptake nor did it inhibit gluconeogenesis from lactate. Transformation of fructose into glucose was also not affected by BHT; only lactate production was slightly increased at the concentration of 100 μM. The uncoupling effect of BHT in isolated mitochondria was confirmed, but only at concentrations above 10 μM; uncoupling at lower concentrations, 10 −9 to 10 −6 M, could not be confirmed. BHT, however, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in isolated mitochondria, starting at the concentration of 10 −8 M. This is the opposite of what can be expected from a compound with proven ex vivo antioxidant action. One cannot exclude the possibility that, in mitochondria, stimulation of ROS production rather than uncoupling could be the most significant effect of BHT.