Interaction of hexachlorophene and other compounds with spin-labeled brain membranes.

Experiments reported here demonstrate that hexachlorophene influences oxidation-reduction events inside the brain membrane, possibly via a free radical mechanism. This was shown by nitroxide spin label quenching inside the rat cerebellum membrane bilayer due to the interaction between hexachlorophene and peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide system. Prior addition of antioxidants, e.g., vitamin E or butylated hydroxytoluene, prevented such membrane-bound fatty acid spin label reduction, presumably due to their free radical scavenging abilities. The 5-doxyl stearic acid spin probe attached to the brain membranes did not exhibit any detectable changes in their ESR spectra nor, consequently, in the microviscosity of the membranes when exposed to up to 40 mM hexachlorophene.