Iron-EDTA stimulated reduction of indicine N-oxide by the hepatic microsomal fraction, isolated hepatocytes, and the intact rat.

Fe(III) complexes of EDTA and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DETAPAC) at low concentrations (between 1 and 100 microM) produced up to a 20-fold increase in anaerobic microsomal NADPH- and NADH-dependent reduction of indicine N-oxide. Under aerobic conditions microsomal indicine N-oxide reduction was stimulated to half the levels seen under anaerobic conditions. EDTA alone was much less effective at stimulating indicine N-oxide reduction, while FeCl3 alone had no effect on reduction. Other complexes of Fe(III) had little or no effect in stimulating microsomal indicine N-oxide reduction. Fe(III)-EDTA stimulated indicine N-oxide reduction by purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADPH. It is probable that iron serves to transfer electrons between microsomal flavoprotein reductases and indicine N-oxide. The redox potential and the presence of an exchangeable ligand, such as water, in the inner ligand sphere of the iron complex are suggested to be important factors in determining which iron complexes will stimulate indicine N-oxide reduction. EDTA complexes of other transition metal ions do not stimulate indicine N-oxide reduction. Hydroxyl radicals, detected as the spin adduct of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyroline-N-oxide, appear to be formed during Fe(II)-EDTA-dependent reduction of indicine N-oxide under anaerobic conditions. Fe(III)-EDTA at concentrations between 50 and 250 microM stimulated indicine N-oxide reduction by rat isolated hepatocytes up to 5-fold under anaerobic conditions and to half these values under aerobic conditions. By themselves, EDTA and FeCl3 at similar concentrations produced a small stimulation of indicine N-oxide reduction by hepatocytes under anaerobic conditions. Fe(III)-EDTA stimulated indicine N-oxide reduction by murine leukemia P-388 cells under aerobic conditions and by rat caecal flora under anaerobic but not aerobic conditions. Fe(III)-EDTA, EDTA or FeCl3 administered to rats produced a 3-fold increase in the 24-hr urinary excretion of indicine following an i.p. dose of indicine N-oxide.