Induction studies on the functional heterogeneity of rat liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferases

Differential induction with phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) suggests at least two functionally distinct UDP glucuronosyltransferases (UDP-GT) which have different acceptor selectivities. One form is induced by 3-MC and preferentially conjugates group 1 acceptors, such as p-nitrophenol and 1-naphthol. Another UDP-GT is induced by PB and glucuronidates group 2 aglycones, morphine and chloramphenicol. To further study this functional heterogeneity, male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with the following microsomal enzyme inducers: 7,8-benzoflavone (BF); benzo(a)pyrene (BP); 3-MC; 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD); butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA); isosafrole; PB; pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN); trans-stilbene oxide (TSO). The effect of induction on UDP-GT activity was determined with nine acceptors. Conjugation of group 1 aglycones, naphthol and p-nitrophenol, was increased by 3-MC (185 and 80%, respectively) whereas PB was ineffective. Conjugation of group 2 acceptors, morphine and chloramphenicol, was stimulated by PB (120 and 250%, respectively) while 3-MC had little effect. BP and TCDD enhanced glucuronidation of group 1 aglycones. ISF and TSO induced conjugation of both acceptor groups but were more effective for group 2. BF and BHA had negligible effects on UDP-GT activity. Since glucuronidation of valproic acid was increased only by PB and TSO treatment, this aglycone is probably a group 2 acceptor. Conjugation of digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside (DIG) was stimulated by PB (200%) and PCN (1200%). PCN did not induce glucuronidation of group 1 acceptors but did have a slight effect on group 2 aglycones (130 and 40% for chloramphenicol and morphine, respectively). The 12-fold increase in DIG conjugation by PCN pretreated rats suggests that PCN may induce another group (form) of UDP-GT which preferentially glucuronidates DIG. Differential induction of UDP-GT activities within each group of acceptors indicates possible additional heterogeneity of the transferase.     

Induction of T(4) UDP-GT activity,serum thyroid stimulating hormone,and thyroid follicular cell proliferation in mice treated with microsomal enzyme inducers

The microsomal enzyme inducers phenobarbital (PB), pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), and Aroclor 1254 (PCB) are known to induce thyroxine (T(4)) glucuronidation and reduce serum T(4) concentrations in rats. Also, microsomal enzyme inducers that increase serum TSH (i.e., PB and PCN) also increase thyroid follicular cell proliferation in rats. Little is known about the effects of these microsomal enzyme inducers on T(4) glucuronidation, serum thyroid hormone concentrations, serum TSH, and thyroid gland growth in mice. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that microsomal enzyme inducers induce T(4) UDP-GT activity, resulting in reduced serum T(4) concentrations, as well as increased serum TSH and thyroid follicular cell proliferation in mice. B6C3F male mice were fed a control diet or a diet containing PB (600, 1200, 1800, or 2400 ppm), PCN (250, 500, 1000, or 2000 ppm), 3MC (62.5, 125, 250, or 500 ppm), or PCB (10, 30, 100, or 300 ppm) for 21 days. All four inducers increased liver weight and hepatic microsomal UDP-GT activity toward chloramphenicol, alpha-naphthol, and T(4). PB and PCB decreased serum total T(4), but PCN and 3MC did not. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone was markedly increased by PCN and 3MC treatments, and slightly increased by PB and PCB treatments. All four microsomal enzyme inducers dramatically increased thyroid follicular cell proliferation in mice. The findings suggest that PB, PCN, 3MC, and PCB disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis in mice.     

Differential effects of microsomal enzyme inducers on in vitro thyroxine (T(4)) and triiodothyronine (T(3)) glucuronidation.

Microsomal enzyme inducers that increase UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) activity are suspected to affect the thyroid gland by increasing the glucuronidation of T(4), which reduces serum thyroxine (T(4)). In response to reduced serum T(4), serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) increases. However, not all microsomal enzyme inducers that reduce serum T(4) produce an increase in serum TSH. We have shown that serum TSH is increased the most in rats treated with the microsomal enzyme inducers phenobarbital (PB) or pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), whereas TSH is affected less in rats treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and Aroclor 1254 (PCB). It is unclear why serum TSH is differentially affected by various microsomal enzyme inducers. We propose that the glucuronidation of T(3) might be the reason serum TSH is increased by some microsomal enzyme inducers but not by others. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a basal diet or a diet containing PB (at 300, 600, 1200, or 2400 ppm), PCN (at 200, 400, 800, or 1600 ppm), 3MC (at 50, 100, 200, or 400 ppm), or PCB (at 25, 50, 100, or 200 ppm) for 7 days; and T(4) and T(3) UDP-GT activities were then determined. T(4) UDP-GT activity was increased in rats treated with PB (120%), PCN (250 to 400%), 3MC (400 to 600%), or PCB (300 to 430%). In contrast, T(3) UDP-GT activity was increased in rats treated with PB (90%) or PCN (120 to 200%), whereas 3MC and PCB treatments did not have an appreciable effect. In conclusion, differential effects on T(3) glucuronosyltransferase activity were found in rats treated with microsomal enzyme inducers.     

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase inducers reduce thyroid hormone levels in rats by an extrathyroidal mechanism.

As many microsomal enzyme inducers have been shown to reduce thyroid hormone levels, this study was conducted to determine if this reduction is produced by directly blocking the synthesis of thyroid hormones, or by indirectly increasing the biotransformation and deactivation of thyroxine (T4) by microsomal enzymes. Surgically thyroidectomized male rats received thyroid hormone replacement therapy by implanted osmotic minipumps, resulting in T4 and T3 serum levels that were similar to those observed in euthyroid controls. Three days after minipump implantation (Day 0), rats were fed diets containing four UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) inducers: phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) for 10 days. PB, 3MC, and PCN reduced total (Days 3-10) and free (Days 7-10) T4 serum concentrations 30-50%, whereas PCB produced a 70-75% reduction in total and free serum T4 (Days 3-10). Treatment with PB, PCN, and PCB decreased levels of total T3 (Days 7-10). UDP-GT activity toward T4 was increased by PB, 3MC, PCN, and PCB 270, 400, 570, and 660%, respectively, and was found to correlate with serum T4 levels (total and free). These results demonstrate that reduction of thyroid hormone levels by microsomal enzyme inducers is produced in part by an extrathyroidal mechanism, quite possibly an increase in T4 glucuronidation.     

Increase in bile flow and biliary excretion of glutathione-derived sulfhydryls in rats by drug-metabolizing enzyme inducers is mediated by multidrug resistance protein 2.

Glutathione (GSH) is an important cellular constituent for normal liver homeostasis. Certain drug-metabolizing enzyme inducers (i.e., phenobarbital [PB] and pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile [PCN]) increase biliary excretion of GSH-derived sulfhydryls (SH) as well as bile flow, whereas other drug-metabolizing enzyme inducers (i.e., 3-methylcholanthrene [3MC] and benzo(a)pyrene [BaP]), do not. The purpose of the study was to determine whether rat multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2) is the inducible transporter responsible for increasing biliary SH excretion and bile flow. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were injected ip daily for 4 days with PB, PCN, 3MC, BaP, or vehicle; Mrp2-null Eisai hyperbilirubinemic (EHBR) rats were injected ip daily for 4 days with PCN or vehicle. Although no drug-metabolizing enzyme inducer altered hepatic GSH in SD rats, PB and PCN significantly increased the rate of biliary SH excretion and bile flow. Neither 3MC nor BaP affected the biliary SH excretion rate or bile flow. In control EHBR rats, despite elevated hepatic GSH, the rate of biliary SH excretion was almost completely eliminated and bile flow was dramatically reduced compared with SD rats. Furthermore, PCN treatment did not affect bile flow or the biliary SH excretion rate in EHBR rats. PB and PCN also increased Mrp2 protein levels, but 3MC and BaP did not. None of the drug-metabolizing enzyme inducers tested significantly increased Mrp2 mRNA levels. PCN increased Mrp2 protein, but not Mrp2 mRNA, in a time-dependent manner. In conclusion, Mrp2 is the inducible efflux transporter responsible for increased biliary SH excretion and bile flow after administration of some drug-metabolizing enzyme inducers.     

Effect of microsomal enzyme inducers on biliary and urinary excretion of acetaminophen metabolites in rats. Decreased hepatobiliary and increased hepatovascular transport of acetaminophen-glucuronide after microsomal enzyme induction

Treatment of rats with phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene, and pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile increased the total (biliary plus urinary) excretion of thioether and glucuronic acid conjugates of acetaminophen (AA) without influencing AA-sulfate excretion, suggesting that these microsomal enzyme inducers enhance both cytochrome P-450-mediated toxication and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-mediated detoxication of AA. However, induction with transstilbene oxide (TSO) did not increase the total excretion of AA-thioethers or AA-glucuronide and decreased AA-sulfate excretion. In addition, all inducers increased the ratio of AA metabolites excreted into urine over that excreted into bile. The extent of this shift from biliary to urinary excretion was dependent on both the AA metabolite and the inducer. The largest shift in the excretory route was seen with AA-glucuronide and induction with PB and TSO as inducers. Specifically, PB and TSO treatments decreased biliary excretion of AA-glucuronide by 70 and 89%, respectively, and increased its blood concentration up to 6- and 11-fold and urinary excretion 3- and 3.6-fold, respectively. Galactosamine depletes UDP-glucuronic acid from the liver only, thereby inhibiting hepatic but not extrahepatic glucuronidation. Galactosamine treatment prevented the PB-induced increase in AA-glucuronide in blood and urine. This suggests that the PB-induced increases in AA-glucuronide in blood and urine originated from the liver. Thus, microsomal enzyme inducers not only influence xenobiotic biotransformation, but may also after the contribution of the excretory routes (i.e. bile and urine) in the elimination of xenobiotic metabolites by changing the direction of hepatic transport.     

Effect of microsomal enzyme inducers on the soluble enzymes of hepatic phase II biotransformation

Numerous xenobiotics induce microsomal enzymes such as cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases, epoxide hydrolase, and UDP-glucuronyltransferase by causing an increase in enzyme synthesis. Since induction of soluble enzymes involved in phase II biotransformation has not been thoroughly studied, effects of the following microsomal enzyme inducers on three important soluble enzymes were examined: phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), isosafrole (ISF), pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), and trans-stilbene oxide (TSO). Representative microsomal enzymes of phase I pathways were examined simultaneously to indicate effective induction. The inducers selected produced the expected increases in hepatic cytochrome P-450 (75–170%), ethylmorphine (200–260%), and benzphetamine (100–260%) N-demethylation, benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation (300%), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (2700%), and styrene oxide hydration (100–270%). The soluble conjugative enzymes studied were glutathione S-transferase, N-acetyltransferase, and sulfotransferase. Glutathione conjugation of 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, and sulfobromophthalein was increased by TSO (100–160%), BHA (60–80%), ISF (60–80%), and PB (60–80%). β-Naphthylamine N-acetyltransferase activity was increased by PCN and 3-MC (60 and 40%, respectively). Only PCN was able to enhance sulfotransferase. Sulfation of 2-naphthol, taurolithocholate, and dehydroepiandrosterone was increased by 28, 111, and 140%, respectively. In conclusion, while microsomal enzymes could be readily induced, activity of soluble phase II enzymes was increased to a much lesser extent. Of the inducers studied, PCN was the most effective at increasing activity of soluble enzymes.     

Increased UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity and UDP-glucuronic acid concentration in the small intestine of butylated hydroxyanisole-treated mice

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) has been shown to decrease the toxicological and carcinogenic potential of a variety of chemicals. One possible mechanism for chemoprotection is that BHA increases intestinal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity and thereby enhances the elimination of the toxicants. Given that oral ingestion is a major route of xenobiotic exposure, we have investigated the actions of BHA on the glucuronidation capacity in the upper small intestine of female mice. Ingestion of high dosages of BHA (600-800 mg/kg/day) for 10 days produced a significant increase in in vitro microsomal acetaminophen glucuronidation but not in diethylstilbestrol conjugation. Furthermore, the concentration of UDP-glucuronic acid, the co-substrate required for glucuronidation reactions, was increased almost 2-fold in small intestine. Ingestion of BHA also increased UDP-glucose concentration and UDP-glucose dehydrogenase activities approximately 2-fold. These findings show that BHA ingestion increases intestinal glucuronidation capacity and suggest that BHA may enhance the intestinal first-pass biotransformation of xenobiotics.     

The inducibility and ontogeny of rat liver UDP- glucuronyltransferase toward furosemide

Furosemide (F) conjugation with glucuronic acid is the main pathway of F metabolism in humans and experimental animals. In order to study rat liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT) activity towards F we developed an in vitro assay in which the conjugation product, furosemide 1-0-acyl glucuronide (FG) was separated and quantitatively determined by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The optimal conditions of the reaction were established and the apparent K_m for F and UDP-glucuronic acid (UDPGA) were 0.22 and 1.76 mM, respectively. Substrate inhibition of UDP-GT toward F occured at F concentrations higher than 1.5 mM. Developmental changes in F glucuronidation were compared to the ontogeny of UDP GT activity toward two other acceptors, 1-napthol and esterone that are known to have different patterns of maturation. F glucuronidation was 26% of adult activity at 18 days of gestation, reached 48% at birth and gradually increased to 250% of adult activity at 22 days of age. Glucuronidation of 1-napthol and estrone attained 87% and 44% of adult activity at 22 days of gestation, 37% and 66% in six-day-old rats and 100% and 427% of adult activity in 22-day-old rats, respectively. The effect of 3-methylcholantrene (3-MC), phenobarbital (PB) and pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) on F UDP-GT was studied and compared to their effect on 1-napthol and estrone glucuronidation. PB, 3-MC and PCN increased F-UDP-GT activity to 208%, 282% and 342% of vehicle-treated animals, respectively, while F pretreatment did not affect the conjugation of F. In comparison, 1-napthol glucuronidation was preferentially induced by 3-MC (4.4-fold of control) while estrone glucuronidation was induced by PB and PCN (4.9- and 2.5- fold of control, respectively). These studies suggest that several forms of UDP-GT activities, which differ in their ontogeny and inducibility patterns, are involved in the glucuronidation of F in vitro.     

Dose-Response Examination of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase Inducers and Their Ability to Increase both TGF-{beta} Expression and Thyroid Follicular Cell Apoptosis

Exposure to certain microsomal enzyme inducers that increaseUDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) activity decreases thyroidhormone levels, which may lead to a subsequent increase in thyroid-stimulatinghormone (TSH). This elevation of serum TSH has many effectson the thyroid, including increasing thyroid follicular cellproliferation, leading to hyperplasia. While induction of UDP-GTactivity decreases thyroid hormone levels by enhancing biotransformationand subsequent biliary secretion, only certain UDP-GT inducersexhibit the ability to increase serum TSH levels. For example,phenobarbital (PB) and pregnenolone-16-carbonitrile (PCN) increaseserum levels of TSH, while 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and Aroclor1254 (PCB) do not. Increased serum TSH concentration also enhancesthyroid gland expression of TGF-ß¹, an anti-proliferative,pro-apoptotic protein. In a previous study in our laboratory,rats were treated for various times (up to 90 days) with PBand PCN, which increased TGF-ß¹ protein and apoptosis.The present study was designed to examine the dose-responseeffect of TSH-increasing (PB and PCN) and nonincreasing (3MCand PCB) UDP-GT inducers on apoptosis and TGF-ß¹.PB and PCN, UDP-GT inducing compounds which increase serum TSH,increased the percentage of TGF-ß¹-positive follicularcells and increased apoptosis. In contrast, UDP-GT inducersthat did not increase TSH (3MC and PCB) did not alter cell deathor TGF-ß production. These data suggest that the increaseof TGF-ß by TSH may serve to regulate the growth ofhyperplastic thyroid.     

Effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix on the glucuronidation in rat liver

Pretreatment of Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) to male Sprague-Dawley rats was demonstrated to increase excretion of acetaminophen-glucuronide conjugate when bile and urine were assayed after administration of acetaminophen. In order to study the effect of GR on the glucuronidation in rats, we examined enzymatic activities of hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UDP-GT1 and UDP-GT2) and intracellular concentrations of hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GA), upon the administration of GR (1 g/kg body weight,p.o.) or glycyrrhizin (23 mg/kg body weight,p.o.), a major component of GR, for 6 days. GR and glycyrrhizin caused increases in specific activities of UDP-GT2 111% and 96%, respectively. Specific activity of UDP-GT1 was increased 25% by GR treatment whereas it was not significantly increased by glycyrrhizin. Concentrations of UDP-GA were increased 257% by GR and 484% by glycyrrhizin. These data indicate that GR activated glucuronidation and thus suggest the possibility that GR may influence detoxification of xenobiotics in rat liver.     

Effects of microsomal enzyme inducers on outer-ring deiodinase activity toward thyroid hormones in various rat tissues

Microsomal enzyme inducers, such as phenobarbital (PB), pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), and Aroclor 1254 (PCB) are more effective at reducing serum thyroxine (T(4)) than serum triiodothyronine (T(3)). It is possible that rats treated with PB and PCN maintain serum T(3) by increasing serum TSH, which stimulates the thyroid gland to synthesize more T(3). However, it is unclear how serum T(3) is maintained in rats treated with 3MC or PCB, because serum TSH is not increased in these rats. We hypothesized that increased conversion of T(4) to T(3), catalyzed by outer-ring deiodinases (ORD) type-I and -II, is the reason serum T(3) is maintained in rats treated with 3MC or PCB. Furthermore, 3MC and PCB do not increase serum TSH, whereas PB and PCN do, because type-II ORD activity in the pituitary of 3MC- and PCB-treated rats is increased greater than in rats treated with PB or PCN. To test these two hypotheses, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a basal diet or a diet containing PB (300, 600, 1200, or 2400 ppm), PCN (200, 400, 800, or 1600 ppm), 3MC (50, 100, 200, or 400 ppm), or PCB (25, 50, 100, or 200 ppm) for 7 days. Type-I ORD activity was measured in thyroid, kidney, and liver, whereas type-II ORD activity was measured in brown adipose tissue, pituitary, and brain. Type-I ORD activity in thyroid was not affected by PB, 3MC, or PCB treatments, and was slightly increased by PCN. Type-I ORD activity in kidney was not affected by PB, PCN, or 3MC treatments, and was reduced by PCB treatment. Type-I ORD activity in liver was reduced by PB, PCN, 3MC, and PCB treatments. Type-II ORD activity in brown adipose tissue was unaffected by any of the four treatments. Type-II ORD activity in pituitary was unaffected by PB or 3MC treatments, and was increased by PCN or PCB treatments. Type-II ORD activity in brain was unaffected by PB treatment, and was increased by PCN, 3MC, and PCB treatments. Overall, total ORD activity, calculated by summation of ORD activities in thyroid, kidney, liver, brown adipose tissue, pituitary, and brain, was reduced rather than increased by the four microsomal enzyme inducers. In conclusion, increased conversion of T(4) to T(3) is not the reason serum T(3) concentration is maintained in 3MC- or PCB-treated rats. Furthermore, the reason serum TSH is not increased in 3MC- and PCB-treated rats is the result of mechanisms other than increased type-II ORD activity in pituitary.     

Effect of UDP-glucuronyltransferase induction on zearalenone metabolism

Experiments were conducted to determine the UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT) isoenzyme which catalyzes zearalenone (Z) conjugation, and the effect of increased enzyme activity on Z metabolism. In competitive enzyme assays, the activity of rat liver UDP-GT towards Z was inhibited by 1-naphthol (NA), a GT1 substrate, and 4-hydroxybiphenyl (HB), a GT2 substrate. When enzyme activity was induced with either 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), a GT1 inducer, or phenobarbital (PB), a GT2 inducer, increased UDP-GT activity towards Z, NA and HB was observed. UDP-GT induction by PB increased urinary excretion of conjugated alpha-zearalenol. These results indicate that UDP-GT isoenzymes have overlapping substrate specificities, and that Z detoxification may be enhanced by UDP-GT enzyme induction, resulting in increased urinary excretion of conjugated alpha-zearalenol.     

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity toward digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside. Differences in activation and induction properties in rat and mouse liver

Glucuronidation of digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside (DT1), a metabolite of the cardiac glycoside digitoxin, is mediated by the microsomal isozymes, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase(s) (UDP-GT). The present studies examined the activation and induction properties of UDP-GT activity toward DT1 in hepatic microsomes of rats and mice. When compared to enzyme activity present in native (latent) microsomes of the rat (0.104 +/- 0.010 nmol/min/mg of protein), the activity toward digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside in mouse native microsomes was 3.5-fold higher (0.379 + 0.44 mumol/min/mg of protein). After treatment with ionic (sodium cholate), zwitterionic [3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonic acid (CHAPS)], or nonionic (Emulgen 911, Triton X-100) detergents, or with UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, enzyme activity in rat microsomes remained unchanged. In contrast, UDP-GT activity (DT1) in mouse liver microsomes treated with detergents or with the nucleotide was increased 2-3-fold above native enzyme activity. Pretreatment of rats with the microsomal enzyme inducers, 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital, had no effect on this enzyme activity, whereas pretreatment with pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) and dexamethasone (DEX) increased enzyme activity toward DT1 800 and 380%, respectively. These findings support the hypothesis that PCN and DEX induce a unique form of UDP-GT in the rat that selectively glucuronidates DT1. In marked contrast, the activity of this enzyme in mouse liver was not affected by pretreatment with any of the microsomal inducers, including PCN and DEX. In both rat and mouse, the P-450p-dependent N-ethylmorphine demethylase activity was increased 10-15-fold in PCN-pretreated animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Immunochemical and functional characterization of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases from rat liver, intestine and kidney

Glucuronidation of various substrates in hepatic, intestinal and renal microsomes of control, phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and Aroclor-1254 (A1254) pretreated rats was investigated. UDPGT activities tested could be divided in four groups on the basis of their tissue distribution and induction by PB or 3MC in liver microsomes. GT1 activities (1-naphthol, benzo(a)pyrene-3,6-quinol) are induced by 3MC in liver microsomes and are present in all tissues investigated. GT2 activities (morphine, 4-hydroxybipheynl) are induced by PB in liver microsomes and appear to be restricted to the liver and the intestine. UDPGT activity towards bilirubin, although induced by PB, can be detected in hepatic, intestinal and renal microsomes. UDPGT activity towards fenoterol is restricted to the liver and intestine and is not induced by PB, 3MC or A1254. The presence of inducible immunoreactive UDPGT isoenzymes in microsomes of liver, intestine and kidney of control and induced rats was demonstrated by immunoblot analysis using rabbit anti-rat liver-GT1 antibodies. Induction of both 54 and 56 kDa polypeptides in hepatitis, intestinal and renal microsomes by 3MC or A1254 was observed. Purification of UDPGT (1-naphthol as substrate) from intestinal microsomes to apparent homogeneity yielded a polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 54-56 kDa. The results indicate that 54 and 56 kDa UDPGT polypeptides are the major A1254 inducible isoenzymes in intestinal and renal microsomes. An increase in immunoreactive protein is correlated with a biochemically measurable increase in glucuronidation capacity for GT1 substrates.     

Role of rat multidrug resistance protein 2 in plasma and biliary disposition of dibromosulfophthalein after microsomal enzyme induction

We have previously demonstrated that microsomal enzyme inducers phenobarbital (PB) and pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), but not 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), increase expression and function of rat Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 (Mrp2), a canalicular organic anion transporter. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether Mrp2 protein induction alters the biliary and plasma dispositions of dibromosulfophthalein (DBSP). After four daily ip injections of PB, PCN, 3-MC, BaP, or vehicle, DBSP (100 mg/kg) was injected iv and was measured in blood and bile over a 40-min period. PB and PCN significantly enhanced plasma disappearance and biliary excretion of DBSP, whereas 3-MC and BaP did not. To determine whether the enhanced plasma disappearance and biliary excretion was entirely due an increase in Mrp2, PCN was also administered ip daily for 4 days to Mrp2-null Eisai hyperbilirubinemic (EHBR) rats and then injected iv with DBSP. PCN significantly increased plasma DBSP disappearance in EHBR rats during early time intervals (2-20 min), but not at later time intervals (25-40 min). PCN did not increase DBSP biliary excretion in EHBR rats, but actually decreased it at later time intervals. In summary, the increase in Mrp2 protein after microsomal enzyme induction is responsible for increased biliary DBSP excretion. Furthermore, the increase in Mrp2 protein after microsomal enzyme induction is not responsible for the enhanced plasma DBSP disappearance at early time points, yet may influence plasma DBSP disappearance at later time points. This study also demonstrates the importance of compensatory hepatic transporters in eliminating DBSP by alternative pathways other than Mrp2.     

Microsomal azoreduction and glucuronidation in the metabolism of dimethylaminoazobenzene by the rat liver

1. Enzymic azoreduction of the hepatocarcinogen, N,N-dimethyl-4-aminoazobenzene (DAB) and glucuronidation of its ring-hydroxylation product, 4'-hydroxy-DAB, by hepatic microsomal fractions in vitro were studied during an eight day period of hepatic regeneration following partial hepatectomy in Wistar rats. Azoreduction of DAB and its N-demethylated metabolites did not significantly change during hepatic regeneration in contrast to N-demethylation of these dyes which is profoundly suppressed during regeneration. UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) activity towards 4'-hydroxy-DAB was partially depressed during the regeneration period, but the depression was considerably less than that for bilirubin. Transferase activity towards 4-nitrophenol, after initial depression, returned to normal levels after the third day of partial hepatectomy. 2. In Gunn rats, microsomal UDP-GT activity towards bilirubin was undetectable, whereas transferase activity toward 4-nitrophenol was 50% of normal. Addition of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in vitro restored transferase activity towards 4-nitrophenol to normal levels, but the activity towards bilirubin was unaffected. Gunn rat UDP-GT activity towards 4'-hydroxy-DAB was 25% of normal and was partially activated upon addition of DEN in vitro. 3. Treatment with clofibrate of beta-naphthoflavone induced hepatic microsomal bilirubin- and 4-nitrophenol-specific UDP-GT activities, respectively; both agents induced transferase activity towards 4'-hydroxy-DAB. Triiodothyronine, which induces 4'-nitrophenol-specific UDP-GT and depresses bilirubin-specific UDPG, had little effect on 4'-hydroxy-DAB UDP-GT activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of galactosamine-induced hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid depletion on acetaminophen elimination in rats. Dispositional differences between hepatically and extrahepatically formed glucuronides of acetaminophen and other chemicals

Galactosamine (GAL) markedly depletes hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GA) whereas extrahepatic UDP-GA is minimally affected. This suggests that GAL predominantly inhibits hepatic glucuronidation. Therefore, the effect of GAL-induced hepatic UDP-GA depletion was examined in bile duct-cannulated rats to determine the role of hepatic glucuronidation in the disposition of acetaminophen (AA). GAL markedly altered the fate of AA-glucuronide but had little or no effect upon other AA metabolites. GAL decreased the biliary excretion of AA-glucuronide up to 92%, whereas reductions in blood levels and urinary excretion of AA-glucuronide did not exceed 50%. This suggests that AA-glucuronide excreted in bile is predominantly of hepatic origin whereas AA-glucuronide found in blood and urine is derived from both hepatic and extrahepatic tissues. Data in the present and previous studies [Gregus, Watkins, Thompson, Klaassen: J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 225, 256, (1983)] indicate that GAL greatly reduced the biliary excretion of AA- and valproic acid-glucuronide whereas the biliary excretion of the glucuronides of phenolphthalein, iopanoic acid, bilirubin, and diethylstilbestrol was only partially decreased. This difference appears to be largely due to differential contributions by the liver and extrahepatic tissues in the glucuronidation of various compounds as well as the availability of glucuronides formed in extrahepatic tissues for biliary excretion. Specifically, the extrahepatically formed glucuronide conjugates of AA and valproic acid are not readily available for biliary excretion whereas the glucuronides of the other compounds are readily excreted into bile.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The UDP-glucuronyltransferase inducers, phenobarbital and pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile, enhance thyroid-follicular cell apoptosis: association with TGF-beta1 expression.

Exposure to certain UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) inducers leads to follicular cell hyperplasia, and ultimately thyroid gland tumors. These compounds decrease thyroid hormones, which increases serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). This induction of TSH enhances thyroid-follicular cell proliferation. In addition, treatment with classical goitrogenic compounds, such as propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (MMI), induces TGF-beta1 in thyroid-follicular cells, presumably through increased TSH. In other tissues, increases in TGF-beta1 induce apoptosis, a particular form of programmed cell death. In this experiment, we sought to determine whether the UDP-GT inducers, phenobarbital (PB) and pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) modulate thyroid-follicular cell apoptosis. If so, are the induction of apoptosis and TGF-beta1 possibly linked? An additional group of rats treated with the thyroid goitrogen, PTU was included. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with thyroid hormone disrupting doses of PB, PCN, or PTU for 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 45, or 90 days. In this study, PTU treatment increased apoptosis and TGF-beta1 immunoreactive thyroid-follicular cells. PTU treatment of rats produced both a large increase number of TGF-beta1-positive cells (detected by immunohistochemistry), and apoptotic thyroid-follicular cells (detected by morphology). In PB- and PCN-treated rats, a moderate increase in apoptosis coincided with similar increases in TGF-beta1 immunoreactive thyroid-follicular cells. In summary, PB and PCN increase apoptosis and the percentage of TGF-beta1 positive thyroid-follicular cells. Thus, treatment with UDP-GT-inducing chemicals may increase the expression of TGF-beta1 and apoptosis in the thyroid to compensate for the thyroid hypertrophy and hyperplasia.     

Effect of microsomal enzyme inducers on the biliary excretion of triiodothyronine (T(3)) and its metabolites.

It has been postulated that inducers of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) decrease circulating thyroid hormone concentrations by increasing their biliary excretion. The inducers pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), and Aroclor 1254 (PCB) are each effective at reducing serum thyroxine concentrations. However, only PCN treatment produces a marked increase in serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), whereas 3MC and PCB cause little to no increase in TSH. Excessive TSH elevation is considered the primary stimulus for thyroid tumor development in rats, yet the mechanism by which enzyme induction leads to TSH elevation is not fully understood. Whereas PCN, 3MC, and PCB all increase microsomal UGT activity toward T(4), only PCN causes an increase in T(3)-UGT activity in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PCN, which increases serum TSH, causes an increase in the glucuronidation and biliary excretion of T(3) in vivo. Male rats were fed control diet or diet containing PCN (1000 ppm), 3MC (250 ppm), or PCB (100 ppm) for 7 days. Animals were then given [(125)I]-T(3), i.v., and bile was collected for 2 h. Radiolabeled metabolites in bile were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC with gamma-detection. The biliary excretion of total radioactivity was increased up to 75% by PCN, but not by 3MC or PCB. Of the T(3) excreted into bile, approximately 75% was recovered as T(3)-glucuronide, with remaining amounts represented as T(3)-sulfate, T(2)-sulfate, T(3), and T(2). Biliary excretion of T(3)-glucuronide was increased up to 66% by PCN, while neither 3MC nor PCB altered T(3)-glucuronide excretion. These findings indicate that PCN increases the glucuronidation and biliary excretion of T(3) in vivo, and suggest that enhanced elimination of T(3) may be the mechanism responsible for the increases in serum TSH caused by PCN.