Effectiveness of metyrapone in the treatment of acetaminophen toxicity in mice

Metyrapone tartrate, 400 mg/kg i.p. raised the LD₅₀ for acetaminophen from 340 mg/kg i.p. to 540 mg/kg i.p. in fasting male Swiss white mice. The minimum protective dose of metyrapone was 200 mg/kg. Metyrapone was effective in preventing death when given up to 2 h after acetaminophen administration. The LD₅₀ for metyrapone tartrate was 760 mg/kg i.p. Metyrapone decreased or prevented acetaminophen induced hepatic damage measured either by histology or plasma glutamate pyruvate transaminase activity. Metyrapone tartrate, 400 mg/kg i.p., inbibited the severe liver glutathione depletion seen with acetaminophen alone. It is proposed that metyrapone protects mice from acetaminophen induced liver toxicity and death by inhibiting the oxidation of acetaminophen to a toxic intermediate.