In Vivo and In Vitro Sevoflurane-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Guinea-pig Liver Microsomes

Abstract: Sevoflurane is a recently introduced volatile inhalation anaesthetic and is already used commonly in Japan. We investigated the potential of sevoflurane to cause lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro. For the in vitro study, pentane formation in a mixture of guinea pig liver microsomes and sevoflurane in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) was analyzed by gas chromatography. Under anaerobic conditions, pentane formed without sevoflurane, but sevoflurane potentiated this anaerobic pentane formation. Two antioxidant agents, vitamine E and glutathione, reduced the pentane formation induced by sevoflurane. In the in vivo study, 18 guinea pigs were exposed to air (control), 0.5% halothane, or 1.2% sevoflurane. The extent of lipid peroxidation and liver damage was investigated by measuring the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive products and serum transaminase (alanine-aminotransferase: ALAT and aspartate-aminotransferase: ASAT) activity 12 hr after exposure. Both halothane and sevoflurane significantly increased thiobarbituric acid-reactive products. The increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive products seen with sevoflurane administration was half that seen with halothane. Sevoflurane increased the ALAT activity to the same extent as did halothane but did not increase the ASAT activity. We conclude that sevoflurane potentiates lipid peroxidation in guinea pig liver microsomes in vivo and in vitro. However, because the degree of liver damage as measured by transaminase activity was minimal and the mechanism of sevoflurane-induced lipid peroxidation is still unknown, we must be cautious in applying these results to humans.     

Vasoactivity of arachidonic acid epoxides

Arachidonic acid (AA) can be metabolized to epoxides and their corresponding diols via the cytochrome P450 epoxygenase pathway. We have compared the vascular activity of four synthetically prepared epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, i.e. 5,6-, 8,9-, 11,12- and 14,15-EET (2-20 microM) on the isolated perfused rat tail artery. The 5,6-EET was equipotent with acetylcholine in dose dependently reducing vascular resistance (ED50 = 3.4 +/- 0.5 microM). The 8,9-, 11,12- and 14,15-EETs of AA did not affect vascular resistance; neither did the 5,6-DHET and delta-lactone, hydrolysis products of 5,6-epoxide. We suggest that the 5,6-epoxide, in contrast to other cytochrome P450-derived products, contributes to the regulation of regional vascular tone.     

Application of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitory effect of furosemide to the study of furosemide release from two of its diuretic derivatives.

Bovine carbonic anhydrase B (CA) inhibitory effect of furosemide was established in two pH values at 26 degress. FFBu [N-furfuryl-4-chloro-5-(butoxymethylsulfamoyl)anthranilic acid] and FFMe [N-furfuryl-4-chloro-5-(methoxy-methylsulfamoyl)anthranilic acid], two of its alkoxymethyl derivatives, did not exert any CA inhibitory effect at those conditions but were found to inhibit the CA activity after their hydrolysis, which yielded the furosemide molecule. The CA inhibitory effect of furosemide was utilized for determining the kinetic rate constants for the hydrolysis of FFBu and FFMe at various pH and temperature levels. The hydrolysis rate constants of FFBu and FFMe were pH-independent in the pH range tested, and the temperature dependence for FFBu yielded an activation energy of 18 kcal/mol. It is pointed out that the hydrolysis rates of FFBu may be important for the explanation of its possible delayed diuretic effect.     

The effect of bleomycin on prolyl hydroxylase and DNA chain breakage: structure-activity relationship.

The activity of purified prolyl hydroxylase (proline, 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase, EC 1.14.11.2) was enhanced about 3-fold by addition of bleomycin in the assay mixture. Various members of the bleomycin family, their derivatives and degradation products were investigated for activities against prolyl hydroxylase together with their activities of DNA chain breakage to determine relationships between the structure of bleomycin and its various actions. All the bleomycins with various terminal amine parts and desamide bleomycin stimulated the enzymatic activity but did not exhibit an effect on DNA chain breakage. The stimulatory activity of bleomycin was not decreased by hydrolysis with 0.3 N H2SO4 at 80 degrees C for 6 hours, conditions which liberates the sugar moiety, but was eliminated by hydrolysis with 6 N HCl at 105 degrees C for 24 hours. In contrast both treatments decreased the DNA chain breakage activity of bleomycin. Optical spectral studies revealed that all the bleomycins and their hydrolysates which stimulated the prolyl hydroxylase activity made complexes with ferrous ion, one of the cofactors of this enyzme.     

Synthesis, stability, and pharmacological evaluation of nipecotic acid prodrugs

Nipecotic acid (1), one of the most potent in vitro inhibitors of neuronal and glial gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) uptake, is inactive as an anticonvulsant when administered systemically. To obtain in vivo active prodrugs of (1), we synthesized four new nipecotic acid esters (3-6), which were obtained by chemical conjugation with glucose, galactose, and tyrosine. These compounds were assayed to evaluate their in vitro chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, their anticonvulsant activity was evaluated in vivo in Diluted Brown Agouti (DBA)/2 mice, an excellent animal model for the study of new anticonvulsant drugs. Esters (3-6) appeared stable, at various temperatures, in a pH 7.4 buffered solution and showed susceptibility to undergoing in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis. Intraperitoneally injected nipecotic acid (1) and esters (3-5) did not protect mice against audiogenic seizures; conversely, nipecotic tyrosine ester (6) showed a significant dose-dependent anticonvulsant activity. The in vivo protective activity of the ester (6) and the inefficiency of nipecotic acid (1) in the same experimental conditions suggest that this ester prodrug could be actively transported intact across the blood-brain barrier, beyond which it could be hydrolyzed.     

Protective effect of diosmetin on in vitro cell membrane damage and oxidative stress in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were used to study the effects of the flavonoids diosmin and its main metabolite diosmetin on the cell membrane damage caused by erythromycin estolate (EE) and oxidative stress caused by tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP). The damage was evaluated by the leakage of intracellular enzymes lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate-aminotransferase and the residual cell content of a lysosomal marker acid phosphatase (AP). After treating the cells for 40 h with diosmetin EE induced less enzyme leakage. The content of AP was kept higher by diosmetin pretreatment after 6 h exposure to EE. Diosmin at the same concentrations had barely any effect. Diosmetin, but not diosmin, also protected against TBHP toxicity and this was related to lower lipid peroxidation and higher glutathione content caused by pretreatment with the flavonoid. When the cells were treated simultaneously with TBHP and diosmetin after 21 h of culture, the protection by the flavonoid was even higher. In fact the antioxidant activity of diosmetin was considerably greater than that of diosmin. After 40 h exposure to both flavonoids diosmin but not diosmetin was detectable in the cell membrane fraction, suggesting that the latter's protective effect is associated with its metabolites.     

Bisphosphonate prodrugs: synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel acyloxyalkyl esters of clodronic acid

Novel tetra-, tri-, and P,P'-dipivaloyloxymethyl esters of clodronic acid were synthesized, and their properties as possible prodrugs of clodronate were evaluated in vitro. All pivaloyloxymethyl esters were significantly more lipophilic (log P(app) ranged from -2.1 to 7. 4) than clodronate (log P(app) < or = -5.4), which suggests that it may be possible to change the intestinal absorption mechanism of clodronate from a paracellular to a transcellular pathway by a prodrug approach. Pivaloyloxymethyl esters degraded rapidly in 10% rabbit liver homogenate, and half-lives of tri- and P,P'-diesters were 1.1 and 14 min, respectively. The intermediate degradation products were further degraded, and clodronic acid was released in quantitative amounts. In human serum, the stability of pivaloyloxymethyl esters was comparable to their stability in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), which suggests that their degradation in human serum is mostly due to the chemical hydrolysis. Benzoyloxypropyl esters of clodronic acid were also synthesized, but they did not release clodronic acid due to the enzymatic and chemical stability of the formed 3-hydroxypropyl phosphonate esters and are, therefore, not prodrugs.     

Inhibition of brain glutamate dehydrogenase by a metabolite of cycloheximide: its relevance for the ammonia formation of brain slices

The addition of 10^?2m cycloheximide produced a strong inhibition of the ammonia formation of guinea pig brain slices incubated in a substrate-free medium. At the same time the utilization of endogenous glutamic acid and GABA was strongly inhibited. Some other endogenous amino acids, viz. alanine, leucine and isoleucine, also showed increased accumulation, whereas the accumulation of aspartic acid was decreased. These results were interpreted in terms of an inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenase leading to a disappearance of α-ketoglutarate and thus preventing the transamination of GABA and other amino acids on the one hand and the transamination of glutamate with oxaloacetate (arising from α-ketoglutarate) on the other.While cycloheximide itself or its product of hydrolysis, formed spontaneously in weakly alkaline solution, was only slightly inhibitory, a metabolite formed in the presence of brain slices was shown to produce marked inhibition of pure beef liver glutamate dehydrogenase, competitive with respect to glutamate. No inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenase activity could be demonstrated in extracts from guinea pig brain acetone powders. However, when acetone powders were prepared from brain slices previously incubated with cycloheximide, their glutamate dehydrogenase activity was significantly lower than that found in acetone powders prepared from control brain slices or from brain slices previously incubated with other inhibitors of glutamate dehydrogenase.It is suggested that these results indicate glutamate dehydrogenase to be the terminal enzyme in the process of ammonia formation in brain slices.     

The formation of furfural compounds in selected saccharide- and polysaccharide-based pharmaceutical excipients

The acid hydrolysis of various selected saccharide- and polysaccharide-based pharmaceutical excipients under acid hydrolysis and the formation of degradation compounds were studied. New degradation products formed from these excipients were discovered. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were employed to identify and fully characterize these unknown compounds. The degradation products were identified as [(5-formylfuran-2-yl)methoxy]acetic acid, 5-[(propan-2-yloxy)methyl]furan-2-carbaldehyde, along with the previously identified 5-(methoxymethyl)furan-2-carbaldehyde. On the basis of the identification of these degradation products, a reasonable mechanism for their formation can be proposed. Temperature and pH affect the hydrolysis rates of saccharides and polysaccharides, which in turn affects the rate of formation of furfural compounds.     

Diabetes-induced changes in retinal NAD-redox status: pharmacological modulation and implications for pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes-induced changes in retinal metabolism and function have been linked to increased aldose reductase activity, hypoxia or 'pseudohypoxia' (increase in NADH/NAD+ attributed to increased sorbitol dehydrogenase activity). To address this controversy, we evaluated the effects of two vasoactive compounds, alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin and antioxidant DL-alpha-lipoic acid, as well as sorbitol dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDI-157) and aldose reductase inhibitor (sorbinil) on retinal free mitochondrial and cytosolic NAD+/NADH ratios in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Diabetes-induced decrease in mitochondrial and cytosolic NAD+/NADH ratios was completely or partially corrected by prazosin and DL-alpha-lipoic acid (despite the fact that prazosin did not affect and DL-alpha-lipoic acid even further increased sorbitol pathway activity) as well as by sorbinil, whereas SDI-157 was totally ineffective. Hypoxia-like metabolic changes in the diabetic retina originate from aldose reductase, but not sorbitol dehydrogenase activity.     

Effects of non-ionic surfactants that modify experimental tuberculosis on lipase activity of macrophages

1. Six series of non-ionic surface active polyethylene glycol ethers, whose effects on experimental tuberculosis have previously been correlated with their polyoxyethylene chain lengths, were examined for their influence on the activity of a lipase present in homogenates of normal mouse peritoneal macrophages. The surfactants are concentrated in the lysosomes of macrophages-a cell type in which the host-parasite confrontation takes place. A preparation of soy bean oil was used as triglyceride substrate; and hydrolysis at pH 4.5 was compared in the presence and absence of surfactant, the products of hydrolysis being assayed by photodensitometry of thin-layer chromatograms.2. The compounds with short polyoxyethylene chains inhibited the release of fatty acid, compared with surfactant-free standard, more than did those with long chains; and some of the latter showed actual enhancement of release. Accumulation of monoglyceride was observed in the presence of six of the seven long-chained compounds, but with none of the seven short-chained compounds.3. The similarity between this correlation of chain length of the surfactants with their effect on macrophage lipase activity, and the known correlation of their chain length with their effect on experimental tuberculosis, suggests a possible connection. How this connection might relate to the mechanism of the varying effects on tuberculosis is briefly discussed.     

Lipid peroxidation, phosphoinositide turnover and protein kinase C activation in human platelets treated with anthracyclines and their complexes with Fe(III).

The effects of the antitumor drugs daunorubicin, doxorubicin and their complexes with Fe(III) on phosphoinositide hydrolysis, lipid peroxidation and protein kinase C (PKC) activation were measured in intact human platelets. Doxorubicin and the Fe(III) complexes of both doxorubicin and daunorubicin quickly induced lipid peroxidation [as measured by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay], phosphorylation of the 40 K substance of PKC, and increased levels of phosphatidic acid and inositol phosphates. Fe(III) alone or complexed to acetohydroxamic acid induced high levels of TBA-reactive material but did not affect either PKC activation or phosphoinositide turnover. In contrast, daunorubicin, which was ineffective per se, inhibited all these doxorubicin- and anthracyclines/Fe(III)-induced biochemical events. We suggest that phosphoinositide hydrolysis determined by anthracyclines, and consequently PKC activation, could be due to lipid peroxidation, thus triggering the activity of phospholipase C.     

Salicylates and 12-lipoxygenase activity in human washed platelets

In vitro salicylates /aspirin, salicylic acid, salicylamide and gentisic acid/ inhibited formation of 12-lipoxygenase products in intact human washed platelets which were stimulated with thrombin or arachidonic acid. Salicylates did not affect 12-lipoxygenase activity in platelet lysates. Ex vivo aspirin or salicylamide at a dose of 1 g given orally to healthy volunteers potentiated formation of 12-lipoxygenase products in washed platelets. It is concluded that the effect of salicylates on 12-lipoxygenase pathway is independent from their influence on cyclooxygenase activity in platelets and aspirin cannot be considered as a selective inhibitor of platelet cyclooxygenase.     

Partial characterization of β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase,and α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Jiangella alba DSM 45237 and their potential in lignocellulose-based biorefining

Jiangella alba DSM 45237 exhibited excellent extracellular β-glucosidase (1.03 ± 0.09 U/mL), β-xylosidase (16.29 ± 0.23 U/mL), and α-l-arabinofuranosidase (7.00 ± 0.09 U/mL) production in the growth media containing 15 g/L wheat straw pretreated with NaOH. The optimum temperature was 40 °C for β-glucosidase and β-xylosidase, whereas it was 50 °C for α-l-arabinofuranosidase. Among them, α-l-arabinofuranosidase was relatively stable at 60 and 70 °C. Enzymes showed maximum activity at pH 8.0. Enzymes, particularly β-glucosidase and α-l-arabinofuranosidase, were able to tolerate NaCl up to a final concentration of 12% (v/w). Among solvents, only ethanol and methanol increased the β-glucosidase activity. The majority of solvents did not significantly affect β-xylosidase activity but increased α-l-arabinofuranosidase activity. Except for phenol, other lignocellulose-derived compounds did not cause a significant activity loss in enzymes. Some of them, such as vanillic acid and acetic acid, have even increased the activity of enzymes. Hydrolysis of pretreated wheat straw using the crude enzyme from J. alba DSM 45237 released 160.9 mg/gds reducing sugars. Analysis of hydrolysis products with thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed that major products were 5C sugars. This is the first report related to the characterization of β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, and α-l-arabinofuranosidase from J.alba DSM 45237 to date.     

Catalysis of nitrofuran redox-cycling and superoxide anion production by heart lipoamide dehydrogenase

Heart lipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH) catalyzed redox-cycling and O2-. production by (5-nitro-2-furfurylidene)amino derivatives using NADH as electron donor. NADH was a much more effective electron donor than NADPH for the nitroreductase activity. O2-. production was demonstrated by cytochrome c reduction, adrenochrome formation and the effect of superoxide dismutase. Under optimum conditions, nitroreductase activity was about 1% of LADH activity. One electron oxygen reduction and NADH oxidation correlated in 2:1 stoichiometry. The nitroreductase kinetics was in accordance with an ordered bi-bi mechanism. Nitrofuran derivatives bearing unsaturated five- or six-membered nitrogen heterocycles were more effective substrates than those bearing other groups, namely nifurtimox, nitrofurazone, nitrofurantoin and 5-nitro-2-furoic acid. Other nitro compounds (chloramphenicol, benznidazole, 2-nitroimidazole and 5-nitroindole) were ineffective. With the triazole, traizine and imidazole nitrofuran derivatives, the nitroreductase pH curve showed a maximum at pH 8.8, different from the pH optimum for the lipoamide reductase and diaphorase activities. Spectroscopic observations demonstrated pH-dependent structural changes in the triazole(I) and triazine derivatives which would affect their behavior as nitroreductase substrates. The nitroreductase activity was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate and enhanced by cadmium and arsenite, whereas the NADH-induced LADH inactivation failed to affect the nitroreductase activity. In the absence of oxygen. LADH catalyzed nitrofuran reduction to products more reduced than the nitroanion, which were not reoxidized by oxygen. The anaerobic nitrofuran reduction was inhibited by cadmium and arsenite. The assayed nitrofuran compounds did not inhibit LADH lipoamide reductase activity, at variance with their action on glutathione reductase (Grinblat et al., Biochem Pharmacol 38: 767-772, 1989).     

The effect of carbon tetrachloride on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellular triacylglycerol in adult rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture

The effect of carbon tetrachloride on the intracellular hydrolysis of triacylglycerol and on the activity of acid triacylglycerol lipase was investigated with primary cultured rat hepatocytes. It was found that the concentration of the precursors in the medium did not affect the time course of the synthesis, secretion and the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol, and that carbon tetrachloride significantly suppressed the hydrolysis of intracellular triacylglycerol and the activity of acid triacylglycerol lipase with a concomitant accumulation of triacylglycerol. The results indicate a possibility that the triacylglycerol accumulation in the cultured rat hepatocytes caused by carbon tetrachloride might be mediated by the suppression of lysosomal acid triacylglycerol lipase activity in addition to the suppression of the secretion of triacylglycerol.     

Effects of novel retinoids on growth and differentiation of a rhabdomyosarcoma cell line.

The influence of all-trans-retinoic acid-beta-D-glucopyranosylester, all-trans-retinoic acid-beta-D-galactopyranosylester, methyl-(1-O-retinoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside)uronate and all trans-retinyl-beta-D-glucuronide were investigated on the celle line BA-HAN-1C. This clonal cell line was derived from a dimethylbenzanthracene induced rhabdomyosarcoma in the rat. The tumor cells were incubated for 5 days with medium which was supplemented with various concentrations of the different compounds. The action of the retinoids were measured by comparing the cellular growth and the creatine kinase activity (as differentiation marker) with an supplemented cell line. The retinoids which are based on all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-retinoic acid-beta-D-glucopyranosylester, all-trans-retinoic acid-beta-D-galactopyranosylester, methyl-(1-O-retinoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoide)uronate and their chemical precursors) showed similar biological effects as all-trans-retinoic acid and could be used in higher concentrations than retinoic acid without the appearance of toxic effects. The all-trans-retinyl-beta-D-glucuronide derivatives did not show any influence on the cell growth and their creatinine kinase activity. With respect to the effects of the compounds two hypothesis about their function were possible: They act as a whole molecule, or: they are bound to a receptor where the really effective substance, all-trans-retinoic acid is released from the molecule by hydrolytic cleavage as required. Investigations with the carbohydrates D-glucose, D-galactose and D-uronic acid disproved the second theorie because these substances enormously support the growth of the tumor cells. The effectively of the free all-trans-retinoic acid would have been diminished by these components. However, this effect did not appear if hydrolysis is considered.     

Dantrolene and mepacrine antagonize the hemolysis of human red blood cells by halothane and bee venom phospholipase A2

Dantrolene is an effective antagonist of anesthesia-induced malignant hyperthermia due to a poorly understood action on skeletal muscle. The present study examines whether the red blood cell can be used as a model to investigate the mechanism of dantrolene action. Halothane (4.7 mM) caused 9% hemolysis of red blood cells. Phospholipase A2 (1 microM) alone caused less than 2% hemolysis, despite high levels (54%) of phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis. Incubation of red blood cells with halothane and phospholipase A2 caused 72% hemolysis. Halothane addition caused 100% hydrolysis of all diacylphosphoglycerides by phospholipase A2, suggesting a mutual potentiation. The major products of phospholipase A2 activity, arachidonic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine, when exogenously added, also greatly increased hemolysis induced by halothane, with arachidonic acid most closely resembling the synergism observed with phospholipase A2. Dantrolene (10 microM) and mepacrine (10 microM) significantly antagonized hemolysis induced by halothane and phospholipase A2 or halothane and exogenously added arachidonic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine. Dantrolene and mepacrine did not antagonize phospholipid hydrolysis or free fatty acid levels. Dantrolene and mepacrine antagonized the synergism between halothane and phospholipase A2 most likely by reducing the lytic action of halothane in the presence of arachidonic acid. The red blood cell is a useful model for studying the antagonism of halothane and phospholipase A2 toxicity by dantrolene and mepacrine.     

Effect of volatile anesthetics on the hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid pathway in mice

Large, rapid decreases in hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid concentrations occur in rats following exposure to myriad chemicals. In fact, 80% reductions in UDP-glucuronic acid occur within minutes after exposure to inhalation anesthetics. The present study was designed to determine whether this decrease in hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid may be due to (a) a decrease in the precursor UDP-glucose; (b) decreased activity of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, which oxidizes UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid; (c) increased activity of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases; or (d) increased activity of nucleotide pryophosphatase, which degrades UDP-glucuronic acid to glucuronic acid-1-phosphate. Exposure to halothane, isoflurane and sevoflurane decreased UDP-glucuronic acid concentrations by 40-52% as compared to that in unanesthetized control mice. No sex-dependent or anesthetic-induced effects of UDP-glucose levels and the activities of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase were observed. Nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity was increased by 47-65% in female mice after inhalation of halothane, isoflurane and sevoflurane. The apparent Vmax for hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenol thymidine 5'-monophosphate ester by nucleotide pyrophosphatase was increased by 56-80% in female mice, whereas the apparent Km was unchanged. These alterations in nucleotide pyrophosphate kinetics may be responsible, in part, for the marked decrease of hepatic UDP-glucuronic acid concentrations by the volatile anesthetics.     

Influence of intact and myrosinase-treated indolyl glucosinolates on the metabolism in vivo of metronidazole and antipyrine in the rat.

Induction of the cytochrome P-450 enzymes is a mechanism whereby cruciferous vegetables and their glucosinolates could influence the risk of cancer. The cytochrome P-450-inducing capacity of isolated intact broccoli glucosinolates and their degradation products, resulting from myrosinase-catalysed hydrolysis, has been assessed in studies of the metabolism of antipyrine (AP) and metronidazole (MZ) in the rat. The intact glucosinolates had no effect on the metabolism of MZ and AP as measured by the clearance and metabolite formation rates; however, the myrosinase-treated glucosinolates significantly increased the clearance of AP by two-thirds and the formation rates of the three major AP metabolites by 87-100%, and doubled the rate of oxidative metabolism of MZ to its hydroxy and acetic acid metabolites. Active myrosinase was thus essential for the capacity of glucosinolates from broccoli (mainly indolyl glucosinolates) to induce the activity of several cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of AP and MZ. The data indicated that hydrolysis products of indolyl glucosinolates had an inducing effect on the activity, but not the total amount, of hepatic cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes. The effect of these products on the oxidative metabolism of AP and MZ was similar to that of phenobarbital. The significance of this induction pattern in relation to cancer risk depends primarily on the activation/inactivation mechanism of the relevant carcinogen.