The Journal of toxicological sciences
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Bilirubin oxidative metabolites (BOM) were shown to be excreted into the urine in rats in which exaggerated oxidative stress was induced. We measured bilirubin (BR) and biopyrrins in the urine of rats treated with fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator, which is known to cause oxidative stress. Male Crj:CD(SD)IGS rats aged 6 weeks were treated orally with fenofibrate at 10, 400 and 800 mg/kg for 2 weeks. ⋯ In conclusion, urinary excretion of BOM, which is a marker for oxidative stress, urinary excretion of BR and the plasma BOM levels were increased in rats treated with fenofibrate. Increased urinary excretions of BR and BOM, and increased plasma BOM levels are likely to be the consequence of physiological protection against the oxidative stress produced by fenofibrate. These findings suggest a possibility that analysis of BOM in the urine and plasma could be helpful in evaluating the degree of oxidative stress in vivo.