Induction effects of polychlorinated biphenyls,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other widespread aromatic environmental pollutants on microsomal monooxygenase activities in chick embryo liver

 Cytochrome P450-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), 7-pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (PROD) and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) activities in 14-day-old chick embryo livers were determined 24 h after pretreatment with selected widespread aromatic environmental contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hexachlorobenzene, and dialkylesters of phthalic acid, and compared with the inducing potencies of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and the coplanar and mono-o-chlorinated PCBs. The effects of other model inducers, i.e. phenobarbital and pyrazole, were also examined. Specificity of EROD induction was estimated with regard to contaminants frequently present in environmental samples and dose-response curves for EROD induction were determined. A strong induction (comparable with that by mono-o-chlorinated biphenyl treatment) by dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[k]fluoranthene or benzo[b]fluoranthene was found, but the maximal level of EROD activity inducible by TCDD was not achieved, partly due to the high toxicity of the tested PAHs. 3-Methylcholanthrene showed moderate inducing potencies; benz[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene and 2,2′,3,4,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl appeared to be weak inducers. Other PAHs and PCBs tested, as well as hexachlorobenzene, dialkyl phthalates, phenobarbital and pyrazole had no marked effects on the EROD level. ECOD activities were increased non-specifically by TCDD, 3-methylcholanthrene, hexachlorobenzene and phenobarbital. A significant enhancement of PROD activity by TCDD and related inducers was observed, while phenobarbital induced the PROD activity only weakly; SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the chicken phenobarbital-inducible cytochromes P4502H with apparent molecular weights 50 kDa were not markedly induced by the TCDD- or 3-methylcholanthrene treatments. Inhibition of EROD and PROD by 9-hydroxyellipticine, a specific inhibitor of rat hepatic cytochrome P4501A1, revealed that PROD induction by TCDD and other P4501A-inducers was probably a result of a broader substrate specificity of chick embryo P4501A. Measurement of EROD activities in chick embryo liver is highly sensitive, specific and suitable for the determination of TCDD-type toxicity of new drugs, agrochemicals, and industrial pollutants. Received: 4 January 1995 / Accepted: 28 September 1995     

Embryonic turkey liver: activities of biotransformation enzymes and activation of DNA-reactive carcinogens

Avian embryos are a potential alternative model for chemical toxicity and carcinogenicity research. Because the toxic and carcinogenic effects of some chemicals depend on bioactivation, activities of biotransformation enzymes and formation of DNA adducts in embryonic turkey liver were examined. Biochemical analyses of 22-day in ovo turkey liver post-mitochondrial fractions revealed activities of the biotransformation enzymes 7-ethoxycoumarin de-ethylase (ECOD), 7-ethoxyresorufin de-ethylase (EROD), aldrin epoxidase (ALD), epoxide hydrolase (EH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and UDP-glucuronyltransferase (GLUT). Following the administration of phenobarbital (24 mg/egg) on day 21, enzyme activities of ECOD, EROD, ALD, EH and GLUT, but not of GST, were increased by two-fold or higher levels by day 22. In contrast, acute administration of 3-methylcholanthrene (5 mg/egg) induced only ECOD and EROD activities. Bioactivation of structurally diverse pro-carcinogens was also examined using ³²P-postlabeling for DNA adducts. In ovo exposure of turkey embryos on day 20 of gestation to 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), 4,4-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) resulted in the formation of DNA adducts in livers collected by day 21. Some of the DNA adducts had ³²P-postlabeling chromatographic migration patterns similar to DNA adducts found in livers from Fischer F344 rats exposed to the same pro-carcinogens. We conclude that 21-day embryonic turkey liver is capable of chemical biotransformation and activation of genotoxic carcinogens to form DNA adducts. Thus, turkey embryos could be utilized to investigate potential chemical toxicity and carcinogenicity.     

Chlorinated drinking water is mutagenic and causes 3-methylcholanthrene type induction of hepatic monooxygenase

Acid/neutral fractions of 4 chlorinated drinking water samples were tested for mutagenicity in the Ames' test and injected intraperitoneally to 10- and 20-day-old Wistar rats at doses of 200 and 100 liters of water/kg body weight. Cytochrome P-450 mediated enzyme activities of ethylmorphine-N-demethylase (EMND), 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD), 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PEROD) were determined in the 9000 g supernatant fraction of liver homogenate. EROD was introduced by the concentrates. The induction was related to the mutagenic activity. About 4-fold increase in activity was observed with the most mutagenic sample. PEROD was also slightly enhanced. EMND and ECOD activities were not affected by the lower dose, but the higher dose caused inhibition of 30-40%. Although the extracts were not toxic to bacteria, they were unexpectedly toxic to rats. It is concluded that the samples contained 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) type inducer(s).     

Enzyme induction of the early chick embryo by airborne particulate extracts

The induction by airborne particulate extracts of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) in early chick embryos was studied to determine whether or not lethality by the extracts was related to the induction. The optimal pH values for AHH and ECOD were 7.1 and 6.9, respectively, after administering the extracts to early embryos. The AHH inducing capacity was significantly increased 4 h after injection of the extracts, then the value gradually increased. The ECOD inducing ability was similar to that of AHH, although to a lesser extent. Among fractions from the extracts, the neutral fraction was responsible for most of the AHH inducing activity. Two neutral subfractions (N2 and N3), consisting mostly of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their derivatives, had the highest inducing activity. A dose-response relationship was observed between the amounts of the N2 and induction of AHH and ECOD in 8-day-old embryos. When the N2 was administered at different stages of development (days 5–9), the values of induced AHH and ECOD activities increased along with the days of development. Extracts of the smaller airborne particulates (<1.1 and 1.1–2.0 m cut-off diameters) had stronger AHH and ECOD inducing abilities than those of the larger, since the former contained high levels of PAH and their derivatives. These results suggested that PAH and their derivatives in the airborne particulates induced AHH and ECOD activities in the early chick embryo. The relationship between the extent of AHH and ECOD inducing activities and that of embryolethality caused by extracts of airborne particulates was not well established.     

Induction of monooxygenase and transferase activities in rat by dietary administration of flavonoids

1. The influence of the dietary flavonoids, chrysin, quercetin, tangeretin, flavone and flavanone, on the components of the rat liver drug-metabolizing enzyme system was examined and compared with two well-known synthetic flavonoids 7,8-benzoflavone and 5,6-benzoflavone. 2. Polyhydroxylated molecules such as quercetin and chrysin, produced no significant changes on phase I and phase II enzyme activities. 3. Flavone was the most potent inducer, and resulted in a mixed type of induction. 7-Ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD), 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and pentoxyresorufin depentylase (PROD) activities were increased 2, 30 and 15-fold respectively. p-Nitrophenol UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT 1), p-hydroxybiphenyl UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT 2) and glutathione transferase (GST) activities were also induced. 4. Flavanone, which differs from flavone only by the degree of unsaturation of the pyrone ring, produced only a weak increase in monooxygenase activity, but the increase in phase II enzyme activities was as great as that for flavone treatment. 5. Tangeretin displayed a mixed pattern of induction, with increases in ECOD, EROD and PROD, and UDPGT 1 and UDPGT 2 activities, but these were less than with flavone treatment. 6. 7,8-Benzoflavone and 5,6-benzoflavone showed induction patterns similar to those of 3-methylcholanthrene. Nevertheless dietary treatment with 5,6-benzoflavone caused changes which were not as great as those usually described when this compound is administered i.p.     

Selective induction of renal microsomal cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenases by 1,1-dichloroethylene in mice

Intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE) to C57 B1/6N mice (125 mg/kg) caused a selective 6- to 10-fold increase in renal microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase ( EROD ) and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase ( ECOD ), without affecting benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity (AHH) or total microsomal cytochrome P-450 content. The observed increases did not result from in vitro activation of the enzymes or from any analytical artifact. Moreover, studies with actinomycin D and cycloheximide demonstrated that the increases resulted from de novo enzyme synthesis. Maximal enzyme induction was observed after a DCE dose of approximately 125 mg/kg, and the induced enzyme decayed rapidly, returning to control levels in about 3 days. Compared to female mice, male mice had higher basal levels of renal EROD and ECOD and were more responsive to the inductive effects of DCE; this correlated with corresponding differences in microsomal cytochrome P-450 levels. Starvation of mice for 24 or 48 hr increased renal EROD and ECOD activities in both male and female mice, but not the extent observed after DCE. The present results support the view of multiple renal cytochrome P-450 isozymes.     

Activities in chick embryos of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase and their induction by 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl in early embryos

1. Basal activities of 7-ethyoxycoumarin O-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase were determined in whole-liver homogenates from chick embryos of different ages, from newly hatched chicks and from chicks a few days old.

2. The enzyme activities increased substantially in chick embryo livers between days five and 10, remained at a fairly constant level until day 19, and reached a peak in activity one day after hatching. The optimal pH value was lower than 7.0 for both enzyme activities.

3. The total increase in activity from day five to one day after hatching was about 300-fold for 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and about 75-fold for aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase.

4. Treatment of eggs with 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl resulted in increased metabolism of both substrates by five-day-old chick embryo livers. The increase in aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase activity was 14-fold while that of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase was approximately double.     

Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on porphyrin synthesis and cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases in small intestine and liver of Japanese quail

The effects of acute exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on porphyrin synthesis and cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases in the small intestine and liver were studied in male Japanese quail. The birds were dosed orally with the PCB mixture, Aroclor 1242, or the individual PCB isomers, 2,4,2',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (2-TCB) and 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (3-TCB), and were killed 48 h later. All the PCB compounds caused a significant increase in porphyrin content and delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase (ALA-S) activity in the small intestine and liver. Increases in porphyrins were greater in the small intestine than in liver. However, a smaller increase in ALA-S activity occurred in the small intestine than in liver, suggesting that ALA-S induction is not a major mechanism for the increased porphyrin content of small intestine. All the test compounds significantly increased the cytochrome P-450 content of liver. In the small intestine, cytochrome P-450 content was increased by Aroclor 1242 and 2-TCB but not by 3-TCB. The activity of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, however, was increased by all test compounds in both liver and small intestine. In contrast, there was a striking difference between small intestine and liver in the induction of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) activity by Aroclor 1242. In the liver, ECOD activity was unchanged or decreased, but in the small intestine, ECOD activity increased linearly with dose. No tissue difference in ECOD activity was observed after treatment with 2-TCB or 3-TCB. These findings suggest that acute exposure to a given PCB results in marked differences between small intestine and liver in porphyrin metabolism and in the induction of cytochrome P-450 isozymes and associated monooxygenases.     

Cyclophosphamide metabolism in the primary immune organs of the chick: Assays of drug activation,P450 expression,and aldehyde dehydrogenase

Several diagnostic catalytic assays were used to determine whether organ-specific metabolic activation or detoxification of cyclophosphamide (CP) contributes to the selective toxicity of CP directed towards differentiating B cells as compared to T cells in the developing chicken. An assay for the alkylation of 4-[p-nitrobenzyl] pyridine (NBP) was used to assess comparative levels of CP activation products generated from microsomal preparations from liver, bursa of Fabricius (B cells), and thymus (T cells) of day-old chicks. Three catalytic assays were used to characterize and compare cytochrome P450-associated enzyme activities in neonatal hepatic and lymphoid tissues. Aldrin epoxidase (AE) was used to detect phenobarbital (PB)-inducible P450 activity. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) were used for the evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-inducible P450 activities in control and PB- or 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB)-induced animals. Using the NBP assay, basal and PB-induced CP activation were observed using chick liver microsomes. However, no evidence of CP activation from immune organ microsomes was observed in control, PB-, or TCB-induced chicks. Basal and PB-induced AE activities were observed in thymus, but not bursa, and represented less than 1% of basal liver activity. EROD activity was detected in TCB-induced samples from both thymus and bursa, the thymus having the greater activity. Activities of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), an enzyme involved in CP detoxification, were about equal in cytosolic fractions from the bursa and thymus. These studies suggest strongly that tissue-specific differences in metabolic capacities are not the major factors governing the selective toxicity of CP directed towards differentiating B lymphocytes in vivo.     

Induction by xenobiotics of phase I and phase II enzyme activities in the human keratinocyte cell line NCTC 2544

This study analyses the expression and induction of several drug-metabolising enzyme activities involved in either phase I or phase II biotransformations in NCTC 2544 human keratinocytes. The phase I activities 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD), 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depenthylase (PROD) were easily detectable in basal conditions. During incubations lasting up to 144 h in the presence of the classical cytochrome P450 inducers β-naphthoflavone (BNF), 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) and phenobarbital (PB), a considerable and significant increase in all the three activities was observed. PROD activity was induced up to 4.5-fold after 96 h in the presence of PB. The MC-induced ECOD and EROD activities were also dose-dependently inhibited by -naphothflavone, which was given to the cells during the incubation with CYP 1A1 inducers. Also the PB-induced PROD activity was decreased by the simultaneous addition of the CYP 2B inhibitor metyrapone. Both cytochrome P450 inhibitors were used at non-cytotoxic concentrations. The phase II enzymes glutathione S-transferase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and quinone reductase were all highly expressed and inducible by MC. The exposure (24 h) of the cells to four hair dyes used in cosmetic formulations resulted in a marked increase in ECOD activity. All data give sustained evidence for the suitability of NCTC 2544 cell line to skin toxicology studies.     

On the enzyme-inducing action of calcium antagonists

The effects of three calcium antagonists, nifedipine (NF), verapamil (V) and diltiazem (DL), on rat liver monooxygenases were studied. The drugs were administered in oral doses of 50, 40 and 30 mg/kg daily for 3 weeks in male Wistar rats. NF and V shortened the hexobarbital (HB) sleeping time and increased benzphetamin-N-demethylase (BND), ethylmorphine-N-demethylase (EMND), aniline hydroxylase (AH), ethoxycoumarineO-deethylase (ECOD), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities and the content of cytochrome P-450 and microsomal heme, but did not change the content of cytochrome b₅. The data suggest that these calcium antagonists exert an enzyme-inducing effect on the hepatic monooxygenases. DL significantly increased only the EROD and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities and shortened HB sleeping time to a lesser extent, suggesting a weaker enzymeinducing effect as compared to NF and V. The three drugs increased the -aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthetase activity and decreased heme oxygenase (HO) activity. The increased cytochrome P-450 content is probably due to the increased synthesis and the decreased breakdown of this hemoprotein.     

人羊膜细胞FL系中细胞色素P450同功酶的诱导

人羊膜细胞FL系含有低水平的基础EROD,ECOD和APND活性,其中EROD活性可被3—MC,β—NF及NE诱导达对照的3.1～6.7倍;ECOD和APND活性则不仅可被上述三种诱导剂还可被PB所诱导,分别增加到2～3和1.5～2倍的活性。当用3—MC与NE同时处理细胞时,EROD和APND活性的升高明显强于3—MC单独处理时。在诱导剂撤除后,细胞内EROD和ECOD的活性维持诱导后的高水平达24～36 h之久。提示诱导后一定时间内细胞对外来化合物的代谢能力明显增强。     

Developmental toxicity,EROD, and CYP1A mRNA expression in zebrafish embryos exposed to dioxin‐like PCB126

Dioxin‐like PCB126 is a persistent organic pollutant that causes a range of syndromes including developmental toxicity. Dioxins have a high affinity for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and induce cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A). However, the role of CYP1A activity in developmental toxicity is less clear. To better understand dioxin induced developmental toxicity, we exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to PCB126 at concentrations of 0, 16, 32, 64, and 128 μg L^?1 from 3‐h post‐fertilization (hpf) to 168 hpf. The embryonic survival rate decreased at 144 and 168 hpf. The fry at 96 hpf displayed gross developmental malformations, including pericardial and yolk sac edema, spinal curvature, abnormal lower jaw growth, and non‐inflated swim bladder. The pericardial and yolk sac edema rate significantly increased and the heart rate declined from 96 hpf compared with the controls. PCB126 did not alter the hatching rate. To elucidate the mechanism of PCB126‐induced developmental toxicity, we conducted ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase (EROD) in vivo assay to determine CYP1A enzyme activity, and real‐time PCR to study the induction of CYP1A mRNA gene expression in embryo/larval zebrafish at 24, 72, 96, and 132 hpf. In vivo EROD activity was induced by PCB126 at 16 μg L^?1 concentration as early as 72 hpf but significant increases were observed only in zebrafish exposed to 64 and 128 μg L^?1 doses (p < 0.005) at 72, 96, and 132 hpf. Induction of CYP1A mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in zebrafish exposed to 32 and 64 μg L^?1 at 24, 72, 96, and 132 hpf. Overall, the severe pericardial and yolk sac edema and reduced heart rate suggest that heart defects are a sensitive endpoint, and the general trend of dose‐dependent increase in EROD activity and induction of CYP1A mRNA gene expression provide evidence that the developmental toxicity of PCB126 to zebrafish embryos is mediated by activation of AhR. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 201–210, 2016.     

Observation of hepatotoxic effects of 2-n-pentylaminoacetamide (Milacemide) in rat liver by a combined in vivo/ in vitro approach

Milacemide or 2-n-pentylaminoacetamide hydrochloride, a new glycine derivative, was found to cause elevations of plasma transaminases in patients suffering from severe depression and Alzheimer's disease. However, no signs of liver toxicity were observed during the course of earlier conducted subchronic and chronic in vivo studies in rodents and cynomolgus monkeys. In this study an in vivo/in vitro approach has been proposed to detect early alterations in key metabolic and functional liver capacities. Milacemide was administered by continuous i.v. infusion for 7 days to male Sprague-Dawley rats using subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps. Doses were given of 0, 250 and 500 mg/kg per day. Body weight and food intake were recorded and at day 7 of exposure, Milacemide concentration, glucose, urea, triglycerides and cholesterol levels and alanine (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were measured in plasma. Non-esterified fatty acids were determined in serum. On day 8, after overnight fasting, hepatocytes were isolated. A portion of the cells derived from untreated animals (no osmotic pumps) were cultured in a primary monolayer and exposed in vitro to different Milacemide concentrations. The xenobiotic biotransformation capacity of the isolated hepatocytes was studied by measuring the cytochrome P450 content, ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD), pentoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (PROD), ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), aldrin epoxidase (AE), epoxide hydrolase (EH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme activities. Triglycerides, cholesterol and phospholipid contents were measured on the isolated cells. At plasma concentrations of 43 and 130 μM Milacemide, the ALT activity was unchanged or significantly decreased, whereas the AST activity was increased in both cases. Other clinical chemistry parameters remained unchanged. Weight gain was significantly lower in rats treated with the high Milacemide dose. In addition, decreased food consumption was observed in all treated animals leading to significantly lower food efficiency factors for the rats treated with the high dose. Milacemide had a specific inhibitory effect on xenobiotic biotransformation: ECOD activity decreased to 60% of the control value for both Milacemide doses, PROD activity remained unaffected whereas EROD activity decreased to 65% of the control value. A decrease was also observed at the highest drug concentration for AE (to 41%), EH␣(to 65%), cytochrome P450 content (to 80%) and GST (to␣85%). At 500 mg Milacemide kg/day, hepatocyte triglycerides levels increased 3.1-fold while cholesterol and phospholipid levels remained unaffected. Electron and light microscopy on total liver and isolated hepatocytes indicated a concentration-dependent accumulation of lipid droplets, the occurrence of numerous vacuoles in the cytoplasm and other structural abnormalities. When the cultured hepatocytes of control animals (without osmotic pumps) were exposed to Milacemide, the appearance of vacuoles and myeloid bodies could be confirmed in vitro. The results of this study using an in vivo/in vitro approach clearly show potential hepatotoxic properties of Milacemide, an effect not observed in conventional toxicity studies. Received: 22 May 1996 / Accepted: 1 October 1996     

Effects of arsenite on hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity in rats

1. Injection of arsenite (As³⁺) to control rats results in losses of total hepatic cytochrome P-450 and significant decreases of ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities. However, As³⁺ appears to decrease the activity of these enzymes differentially, with EROD showing greater sensitivity than ECOD.

2. Injection of As³⁺ to rats treated with phenobarbital and isosafrole significantly decreases the total content of hepatic cytochrome P-450 and various mixed function oxidase (MFO) activities, with the exception of ECOD which appears to be insensitive to As³⁺.

3. 3-Methylcholanthrene administration apparently protects against the effects of As³⁺ on the cytochrome P-450 system, since total content of the cytochrome P-450 and various MFO activities were all insensitive to this treatment.     

Biochemical characterization of coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity in chick embryo liver microsomes.

Coumarin occurs naturally in the diet and can induce and inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes. Hepatic coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity is the major pathway for coumarin metabolism in humans but not in rats, most strains of mice, or other laboratory animals. Coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity and the effects of chemical inhibitors and inducers on this activity were studied in 19-day-old chick embryo liver microsomes. Activity was between 35 and 75 nmol/mg protein/hr which is approximately 2-fold higher than reported for human liver microsomes. The pH optimum was 7.8 and the Km determined by both an ether extraction and a high performance liquid chromatography method was 7.3 +/- 0.9 (+/- SD) microM. Substrate inhibition was evident at coumarin concentrations above 250 microM (activities at 1000 and 4000 microM coumarin were 84 and 40% of Vmax, respectively). The Ki values (+/- SD) for inhibitors of microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity in vitro were: alpha-naphthoflavone, 46.9 +/- 19.8 nM; metyrapone, 0.8 +/- 0.9 microM; aniline, 12.3 +/- 8.2 microM; cimetidine, 70.9 +/- 27.9 microM; N-nitrosodimethylamine, 0.7 +/- 0.9 mM; and dimethyl sulfoxide, 7.9 +/- 1.9 mM. Treatment of chick embryos with pyrazole (40 mumol) increased coumarin 7-hydroxylase by 50% at 24 hr, but this activity was unaffected by treatment of embryos with 3-methylcholanthrene (2 mumol) or glutethimide (8 mumol). Thus, hepatic coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity in 19-day-old chick embryos is higher than in most laboratory animals and has similar biochemical properties as the enzyme in humans and mice. The chick embryo liver may be a useful system for studies on the biochemical effects of coumarin and the regulation of cytochrome P450-dependent coumarin 7-hydroxylase.     

Inhibition of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 activities by biodegradation products of 4-tert-octylphenol ethoxylate.

1. The effects of some biodegradation products of 4-tert-octylphenol ethoxylate (OPEO), namely 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), 4-tert-octylphenol diethoxylate (OP2EO) and 4-tert-octylphenol monocarboxylate (OPIEC) on the kinetics of cytochrome P450 (P450) -dependent monooxygenases in rat liver microsomes have been studied. 2. Testosterone 16beta-hydroxylase (TS16BH), testosterone 2alpha-hydroxylase (TS2AH) and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase (TS6BH) activities were extensively inhibited by OP at 100 microM (56.0-90.3%). Inhibition was competitive for all P450-dependent monooxygenases. Ki(s) of TS16BH, TS2AH and TS6BH from Lineweaver-Burk plots were 6.37, 3.38 and 34.8 microM respectively. 3. The activities of acetanilide 4-hydroxylase (AA4H), 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) and bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase (BF1'H) were also effectively inhibited by OP at 100 microM (48.6-56.0%). The inhibition of these P450-dependent monooxygenases was non-competitive, and Ki(s) (50.1-63.90 microM) were higher than those of TS16BH, TS2AH and TS6BH. 4. OP2EO also inhibited AA4H, ECOD, TS16BH, TS2AH, BF1'H and TS6BH activities by 38.7-69.3% at 100 microM, although the inhibition rates were slightly lower than those for OP. K(i)s were 14.4-106 microM, and the inhibition was of mixed type (AA4H and ECOD), competitive (TS16BH, TS2AH and TS6BH) and non-competitive (BF1'H). 5. Testosterone 7alpha-hydroxylase (TS7AH), 4-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylase (4NP2H) and lauric acid omega-hydroxylase (LAOH) activities were only slightly affected by OP and OP2EO. 6. The ability of OP1EC to inhibit P450-dependent monooxygenase activities was generally weaker than that of OP and of OP2EO: Ki >200 microM. 7. These results suggest that OPEO biodegradation products interact with constitutive P450 isoforms, CYP1A2, CYP2A2, CYP2B2, CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 in rat liver in vitro (OP > OP2EO > OP1EC), and that the mechanism of this interaction differs depending on the compound and P450 isoform.     

Investigating the effect of excess caffeine exposure on placental angiogenesis using chicken ’functional‘ placental blood vessel network

It is now known that over‐consumption of caffeine by pregnant mothers could have detrimental effects on normal fetal development. However, it remains obscure how caffeine's harmful effect impacts directly or indirectly on the developing embryo/fetus through damaging placenta development. In this study, we demonstrated the morphological similarities between the yolk sac and chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) of chick embryos and the villi of the mammalian placenta. Using the chick yolk sac and the CAM as a model, we found that 5–15 µmol per egg of caffeine exposure inhibited angiogenesis. Under the same condition, cell proliferation in extraembryonic mesoderm was reduced while apoptosis was enhanced. Semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR analysis revealed that caffeine treatment down‐regulated VEGF, VEGFR2, PIGF, IGF2 and NRP1 expression, but up‐regulated Ang1 and Ang2 expression. We performed in situ hybridization to show VE‐cadherin expression and as to demonstrate the blood vessels in the CAM and yolk sac membranes. This distribution of the VE‐cadherin⁺ blood vessels was determined to be reduced after caffeine treatment. Furthermore, MDA activity was induced after caffeine exposure, but GSH‐PX activity was inhibited after caffeine exposure; SOD activity was unchanged as compared with the control. In summary, our results suggest that caffeine exposure could negatively impact on angiogenesis in the chick yolk sac and CAM by targeting angiogenesis‐related genes. Some of these genes are also involved in regulating excess ROS generation. The results implied that the negative impact of caffeine on fetal development was partly attributed to impaired placental angiogenesis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Activities in chick embryos of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase and their induction by 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl in early embryos

Basal activities of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase were determined in whole-liver homogenates from chick embryos of different ages, from newly hatched chicks and from chicks a few days old. The enzyme activities increased substantially in chick embryo livers between days five and 10, remained at a fairly constant level until day 19, and reached a peak in activity one day after hatching. The optimal pH value was lower than 7.0 for both enzyme activities. The total increase in activity from day five to one day after hatching was about 300-fold for 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and about 75-fold for aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase. Treatment of eggs with 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl resulted in increased metabolism of both substrates by five-day-old chick embryo livers. The increase in aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase activity was 14-fold while that of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase was approximately double.     

Inhibition of rat hepatic cytochrome P450 activities by biodegradation products of 4-tert-octylphenol ethoxylate

1. The effects of some biodegradation products of 4-tert-octylphenol ethoxylate (OPEO), namely 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), 4-tert-octylphenol diethoxylate (OP2EO) and 4-tert-octylphenol monocarboxylate (OP1EC) on the kinetics of cytochrome P450 (P450) -dependent monooxygenases in rat liver microsomes have been studied. 2. Testosterone 16β-hydroxylase (TS16BH), testosterone 2α-hydroxylase (TS2AH) and testosterone 6β-hydroxylase (TS6BH) activities were extensively inhibited by OP at 100 μM (56.0-90.3%). Inhibition was competitive for all P450-dependent monooxygenases. K_is of TS16BH, TS2AH and TS6BH from Lineweaver-Burk plots were 6.37, 3.38 and 34.8 μM respectively. 3. The activities of acetanilide 4-hydroxylase(AA4H),7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) and bufuralol 1′-hydroxylase (BF1'H) were also effectively inhibited by OP at 100 μM (48.6-56.0%). The inhibition of these P450-dependent monooxygenases was non-competitive, and K_is (50.1-63.9 μM) were higher than those of TS16BH, TS2AH and TS6BH. 4. OP2EO also inhibited AA4H, ECOD, TS16BH, TS2AH, BF1'H and TS6BH activities by 38.7-69.3% at 100 μM, although the inhibition rates were slightly lower than those for OP. K_is were 14.4-106 μM, and the inhibition was of mixed type (AA4H and ECOD), competitive (TS16BH, TS2AH and TS6BH) and non-competitive (BF1'H). 5. Testosterone 7α-hydroxylase (TS7AH), 4-nitrophenol 2-hydroxylase (4NP2H) and lauric acid ω-hydroxylase (LAOH) activities were only slightly affected by OP and OP2EO. 6. The ability of OP1EC to inhibit P450-dependent monooxygenase activities was generally weaker than that of OP and of OP2EO: K_i > 200 μM. 7. These results suggest that OPEO biodegradation products interact with constitutive P450 isoforms, CYP1A2, CYP2A2, CYP2B2, CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 in rat liver in vitro (OP > OP2EO > OP1EC), and that the mechanism of this interaction differs depending on the compound and P450 isoform.