Plasma Butyrylcholinesterase Activity Protects Against Cocaine Hepatotoxicity in Female Mice

Oral cocaine administration results in hepatic necrosis, increased plasma transaminase concentration, and decreased antioxidative capability, which is potentiated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in male CF-1 mice. Females administered the same treatment regimen display none of the hepatotoxic effects seen in their male counterparts. This study was conducted to further dissect the mechanism responsible for this gender difference in cocaine hepatotoxicity (CH) and lipopolysaccharide potentiation of CH. Male and female CF-1 mice were orally administered 20 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride once daily for 7 days. Four hours after the last cocaine administration the mice were administered 12 × 106 EU LPS intraperitoneally. The activity of plasma esterase (butyrylcholinesterase), the enzyme responsible for the major pathway of cocaine metabolism to nonhepatotoxic metabolites, was measured. Aminotransferase release and histological analysis were used to determine hepatotoxicity. The concentration of the hepatotoxic precur...