Comparative effects of two antimycotic agents, ketoconazole and terbinafine on the metabolism of tolbutamide, ethinyloestradiol, cyclosporin and ethoxycoumarin by human liver microsomes in vitro.

Two antimycotic agents, the azole ketoconazole and the allylamine terbinafine, have been examined for their effects on the metabolism of tolbutamide, ethinyloestradiol, cyclosporin and ethoxycoumarin by human liver microsomes (n = 4) in vitro. Ketoconazole caused marked inhibition of all enzyme activities with mean IC50 values (concentration producing 50% inhibition) of 17.9 microM (tolbutamide hydroxylase), 1.9 microM (ethinyloestradiol 2-hydroxylase), 2.0 microM (cyclosporin N-demethylase), 2.1 microM (cyclosporin hydroxylase) and 25 microM (ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase). At 50 microM terbinafine concentration, inhibition was less than 5% for tolbutamide and ethoxycoumarin, approximately 12% for both cyclosporin pathways and 35% for ethinyloestradiol. Terbinafine does not have the same inhibitory potential for cytochrome P-450 isozymes as ketoconazole.     

Altered activity of hepatic mixed-function mono-oxygenase enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

1. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats, hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was depressed, whereas aniline hydroxylase activity and cytochrome P-450 content were increased over control values. 2. In diabetic female rats, hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, aniline hydroxylase activity, biphenyl 4-hydroxylase activity, and cytochrome P-450 content were increased over control values. 3. Insulin treatment of diabetic male and female rats antagonized all physical and biochemical abnormalities of the diabetic state; 4. Methyl analogues of streptozotocin did not produce a diabetic state when injected into female rats, and resulted in no changes in aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, aniline hydroxylase activity, or cytochrome P-450 content. 5. Insulin treatment of non-diabetic female rats resulted in slight decreases in aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities, but no changes in cytochrome P-450 content. These observations suggest that insulin primarily influences drug metabolism of diabetic animals through correction of the insulin-deficient diabetic state.     

Involvement of the cytochrome P-450IID subfamily in minaprine 4-hydroxylation by human hepatic microsomes.

4-Hydroxylation of minaprine was measured on microsomal fractions prepared from 25 different human liver samples. In vitro formation of 4-hydroxyminaprine exhibited a large interindividual variability. Indeed, minaprine 4-hydroxylase activity ranged between 0.033 and 0.421 nmol/min/mg microsomal protein. Two samples presented a particularly low enzyme activity. Minaprine 4-hydroxylation followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with KM and Vmax values of 5.26 microM and 0.478 nmol/min/mg microsomal protein, respectively, for one particular representative sample. The effects of various compounds (substrates or inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 isoforms) on 4-hydroxyminaprine formation were investigated. Selective substrates for P-450IA [benzo(a)pyrene, theophylline, and phenacetin], IIC (hexobarbital), IIE (aniline), and IIIA (erythromycin, nifedipine, and troleandomycin) cytochrome subfamilies did not inhibit 4-hydroxyminaprine formation. The nonspecific cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, cimetidine, slightly inhibited minaprine 4-hydroxylation. The classical substrates of the P-450IID cytochrome subfamily (debrisoquine, propranolol, and sparteine) inhibited minaprine 4-hydroxylation, as did the known P-450IID specific inhibitor, quinidine. These compounds inhibited minaprine 4-hydroxylase with Ki values of 16.5 (debrisoquine), 14.4 (propranolol), 61.9 (sparteine), and 0.146 microM (quinidine). 4-Hydroxyminaprine formation rate was shown not to be correlated with the activity of both erythromycin N-demethylase (r = 0.29, non-significant) and aniline hydroxylase (r = -0.15, NS). In contrast, minaprine 4-hydroxylase was well correlated with both debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase activity (r = 0.501, p less than 0.05) and immunoquantified cytochrome P-450IID6 (r = 0.579, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of pregnancy on the metabolism of drugs in the rat and rabbit

In rats 19–20 days pregnant, liver weight is increased by 40 per cent, cytochrome P-450 concentration is decreased by 25 per cent and the specific activities of 4-methylumbelliferone glucuronyl transferase and biphenyl-4-hydroxylase are reduced by 25 and 30 per cent, respectively; biphenyl-2-hydroxylase and p-nitrobenzoic acid reductase are not changed. In rats, 15–16 days pregnant, liver weight is increased by 33 per cent but the concentration of cytochrome P-450 and the specific activities of the drug microsomal enzymes are unchanged. Expressed as total amounts per whole liver, there is an increase in microsomal protein and nitro-reductase in both 15–16 and 19–20 day pregnant animals but no changes occur in cytochrome P-450, glucuronyl transferase or biphenyl hydroxylases.Hexobarbital administered to rats at doses related to pregnant body weight increases the sleeping-time from 50 min in non-pregnant animals to 110 min at full-term, but when administered on the basis of the non-pregnant body weight the duration of anaesthesia remains unchanged.Pretreatment of pregnant (19–20 days) and non-pregnant rats with phenobarbital leads to similar increases in microsomal protein (25 per cent) and nitroreductase activity (40 per cent); cytochrome P-450 is increased in non-pregnant animals (30 per cent) but not in the pregnant, although biphenyl-4-hydroxylase is increased in both to such extents as to annul the inhibitory effect of pregnancy. Pretreatment with methylcholanthrene gives rise to similar increases in cytochrome P-450 (30 per cent) and biphenyl-2-hydroxylase (10-fold increase) in both pregnant and non-pregnant rats and again increases biphenyl-4-hydroxylase so as to annul the effect of pregnancy.With rabbits, no change occurs in liver weight, microsomal protein, nitro-reductase, cytochrome P-450, or biphenyl-4-hydroxylase at full-term pregnancy, but glucuronyl transferase is reduced by 20 per cent, and coumarin-7-hydroxylase by 60 per cent. Pretreatment of rabbits with phenobarbital increases microsomal protein (15, 25 per cent), nitro-reductase (70, 80 per cent), cytochrome P-450 (130, 90 per cent), biphenyl-4- hydroxylase (50, 60 per cent), coumarin-7-hydroxylase (40, 150 per cent), and glucuronyl transferase (65, 15 per cent) in both non-pregnant and pregnant animals, respectively.The decrease during pregnancy of hepatic glucuronyl transferase is attributed to competitive inhibition by high levels of endogenous estrogenic and progestational steroids, but the decrease in the activities of the microsomal hydroxylating enzymes is attributed to the decrease in P-450, which may result from high levels of growth factors.     

The effect of age on inducibility of various types of rat liver cytochrome P-450.

1. The content and specific activities of inducible cytochrome P-450 enzymes were determined in liver microsomes of rats of various ages after maximal induction with phenobarbital, isosafrole of 3-methylcholanthrene, and in untreated animals. 2. With age an increase in liver weight was observed both in untreated rats and in maximally induced ones; the microsomal protein content/g of liver decreased with age in untreated animals but not in induced ones. Total cytochrome P-450 content/mg microsomal protein remained unchanged with age in all experimental groups. 3. Immunologically detectable levels of cytochrome P4501A1/1A2 and 2B1/2B2 remain unchanged with age both in untreated animals and in maximally induced ones. 4. Several cytochrome P-450 activities showed an age-related decrease in untreated animals, but no change with age was observed in the activities of cytochrome P4501A1, 2A2 and 2B1/2B2 in rat liver microsomes. This indicates that ageing affects only the activity of some constitutive forms of cytochrome P-450 in male rats, but not the activity of inducible types of P-450. 5. Although previous results indicated decreased inducibility of the cytochrome P-450 mRNA levels with age, the present study clearly demonstrates that this is not reflected in decreased enzyme levels or activities after maximal induction. From this it is concluded that the decreased mRNA levels might rather be reflected in a decreased rate at which maximal induction can be achieved.     

Separation of human liver microsomal tolbutamide hydroxylase and (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase cytochrome P-450 enzymes.

Purification and immunoinhibition studies have suggested that the hydroxylations of (S)-mephenytoin and tolbutamide are catalyzed by rather similar forms of human liver cytochrome P-450 (P-450). However, the two activities are not well correlated in vivo; sulfaphenzaole is a selective inhibitor of tolbutamide hydroxylation, and expression of P-450 2C10 cDNA in yeast yields a protein that hydroxylates tolbutamide but not (S)-mephenytoin. The P-450 2C8, 2C9, and 2C10 cDNAs have all been isolated, and their sequences are known to be closely related (greater than 80%). Highly sensitive radiochromatographic assays were set up, and tolbutamide and (S)-mephenytoin hydroxylation activities were monitored during chromatography of human liver microsomal fractions. The two activities could be separated by chromatography, and proteins were purified to near-homogeneity that catalyzed either tolbutamide hydroxylation (P-450TB) or (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation (P-450MP) but not both. Approximately 16 and 45% of the primary sequences of P-450TB and P-450MP, respectively, were determined by analysis of the tryptic peptides. The sequences of the P-450TB peptides matched those predicted by the P-450 2C9 and 2C10 cDNAs exactly; the P-450MP peptides showed two mismatches (of 219 residues) with the P-450 2C10 sequence. Proteins with the P-450 2C10 and P-450 2C9 sequences were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown under different nutritional conditions, and both were found to be proficient in the hydroxylation of tolbutamide but not (S)-mephenytoin. We conclude, on the basis of this and previous work, that 1) P-450s 2C8, 2C9, and 2C10 all catalyze the hydroxylation of tolbutamide and 2) the protein involved in polymorphic (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation is closely related to but distinct from P-450 2C8, 2C9, and 2C10.     

Combined effect of nitrogen dioxide and cold stress on the activity of the hepatic cytochrome P-450 system in rats

The combined effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and cold stress were assessed on the cytochrome P-450 system by measuring microsomal protein content, cytochrome P-450 content, aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, and aniline hydroxylase activity in the liver of male Wistar rats exposed to 4 ppm NO2 and/or cold environment (4 degrees C) for 24 h, 14 days, and 30 days. Exposure to cold alone changed the activity of the cytochrome P-450 system during the exposure up to 30 days, and exposure to NO2 alone also influenced it after 14 days and 30 days of exposure. Interactions were observed in the effect on the cytochrome P-450 system when rats were exposed to NO2 and cold simultaneously. There was a tendency that NO2 suppressed the increases in activities of the cytochrome P-450 system caused by cold of 24-h and 30-day exposure.     

Tolbutamide hydroxylation by human, rabbit and rat liver microsomes and by purified forms of cytochrome P-450

Tolbutamide hydroxylation has been investigated in human, rabbit and rat liver microsomes and by six purified forms of hepatic rabbit cytochromes P-450. These studies were carried out to investigate whether an appropriate animal model could be developed for the human cytochrome(s) P-450 metabolizing tolbutamide. Selective induction was used in rats and rabbits to indicate the isozymes primarily responsible for tolbutamide hydroxylation in these species. Microsomal tolbutamide hydroxylase activity was significantly induced only by phenobarbital pretreatment in the rat which induces P-450 forms b (P-450IIB1) and/or e (P-450IIB2). Only pretreatment of rabbits with rifampicin, which induces cytochrome P-450 form 3c (P-450IIIA6), significantly increased the microsomal hydroxylation of tolbutamide. However, the increase in tolbutamide hydroxylase activity in rifampicin-induced microsomes (congruent to 50%) appears low compared to known levels of induction of P-450IIIA6 following rifampicin pretreatment (5-10-fold). These data suggest that P-450IIIA6 is at least partially involved in tolbutamide hydroxylation in rabbit liver but that other form(s) may be relatively more important. Reconstitution experiments with six purified forms of rabbit cytochrome P-450 indicated that the highest activity occurred with P-450IIIA6 (form 3c). As isozymes from different gene families or subfamilies appeared to metabolize tolbutamide in the three species studied, catalytic similarities between the P-450s with respect to inhibition was further investigated in microsomes using sulfaphenazole, alpha-naphthoflavone and mephenytoin. These studies showed that the catalytic characteristics in relation to inhibition differ markedly between species. Hence, it appears that the animal model approach is not likely to be successful in the identification and characterization of the cytochrome P-450 form(s) metabolizing tolbutamide in humans.     

Effects of motorcycle exhaust inhalation exposure on cytochrome P-450 2B1, antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation in rat liver and lung

The effects of motorcycle exhaust (ME) on metabolic and antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation were determined using male rats exposed to 1:10 diluted ME by inhalation 2 h daily for 4 wk. For microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzymes, ME resulted in threefold increases of 7-ethoxyresorufin and pentoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities in liver and a sixfold increase of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity and an 80% decrease of pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity in lung. The results of immunoblot analysis of microsomal proteins revealed that ME increased liver and lung cytochrome P-450 1A1 with minimal effects on cytochrome P-450 2E1. ME increased cytochrome P-450 2B1/2 proteins in liver but decreased cytochrome P-450 2B1 in lung. ME did not change microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzyme activity or protein level in kidney. For phase II enzymes, ME resulted in 53% and twofold increases of cytosolic NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase activities in liver and lung, respectively, and no effect on microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities. For antioxidant enzymes, ME produced 23% and 35% decreases of superoxide dismutase, 9% and 27% decreases of catalase, and no changes of glutathione peroxidase activities in liver and lung cytosols, respectively. For lipid peroxidation, the results of thiobarbituric acid assay showed that ME resulted in a twofold increase of formation of malondialdehyde by liver microsomes incubated with FeCl(3) -ADP. ME produced a threefold increase of malondialdehyde formation by lung microsomes. The present study demonstrates that ME inhalation exposure differentially modulates cytochrome P-450 2B1 and antioxidant enzymes and increases susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in rat liver and lung.     

Effect of hexachlorobenzene on microsomal enzyme systems

Male rats were fed for 10 days on a diet containing 333 ppm hexachlorobenzene. Increased microsomal protein levels were noted compared to control rats. On a per g liver basis, the levels of aniline hydroxylase, biphenyl 4-hydroxylase, biphenyl 2-hydroxylase, 4-nitroanisole O-demethylase, esterase, cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b₅ all increased compared with the control values. On a per mg microsomal protein basis, biphenyl 2-hydroxylase, 4-nitroanisole O-demethylase and cytochrome P-450 levels increased several-fold compared with the control values. It is suggested that, by inducing the 2-hydroxylation reaction, hexachlorobenzene might cause preferential ortho-hydroxylation, as do some carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons, and that in some circumstances this could lead to the formation of carcinogens.     

Dose-dependent actions of spironolactone on the inner and outer zones of the guinea pig adrenal cortex.

The results of prior in vitro studies indicated that spironolactone (SL) caused far greater degradation of cytochromes P-450 in the outer (zona glomerulosa plus zona fasciculata) than inner (zona reticularis) zone of the guinea pig adrenal cortex and selectively decreased microsomal 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity. Studies were done to determine if the effects of SL in vivo were similarly zone and/or enzyme selective. Administration of high doses of SL (100 mg/kg) to guinea pigs altered the gross appearance of the adrenal glands and caused declines in 17 alpha- and 21-hydroxylase activities in both inner and outer zone microsomal preparations. The losses in enzyme activities were accompanied by decreases in microsomal cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5 and heme concentrations, and in mitochondrial P-450 levels in both zones. Microsomal P-450(17 alpha) apoprotein levels were also decreased in both zones. A lower dose (25 mg/kg) of SL did not affect adrenal morphology, but decreased microsomal P-450 levels in both zones. Neither mitochondrial P-450 nor microsomal b5 concentrations were affected in either zone. 17 alpha-Hydroxylase activities and P-450(17 alpha) apoprotein concentrations in both zones were decreased by the lower dose of SL, but 21-hydroxylase activity declined in the inner zone only. The results indicate that very high doses of SL have a variety of nonspecific effects on the adrenals which may be the consequence of drug toxicity. Nontoxic doses exert more selective effects on microsomal cytochromes P-450 in both adrenal zones, more closely mimicking the in vitro actions of the drug.     

“Detoxication,a most Stimulating Concept of Toxicology”

1. Large, independent variations occur among New Zealand White rabbits in the 21-and 6β-hydroxylation of progesterone as catalysed by liver microsomes.

2. These reactions are catalysed respectively by two electrophoretically distinct types of rabbit-liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, 1 and 3b, as judged by their catalytic efficiency and the capacity of specific monoclonal antibodies to extensively inhibit the respective microsomal hydroxylases.

3. The relatively large variations in progesterone 6β-hydroxylase activity do not appear to be associated with differences in microsomal content of cytochrome P-450 3b, whereas differences in the microsomal concentration of cytochrome P-450 1 may underlie variations in 21-hydroxylase activity.

4. Preparations of cytochrome P-450 3b contain at least two catalytically distinct subforms, one of which catalyses both 6β- and 16α-hydroxylation of progesterone with a low K_m while the other subform catalyses predominantly 16α-hydroxylation with a significantly greater K_m.

5. The two catalytic subforms of cytochrome P-450 3b can be independently modulated in vitro by positive and negative effectors that can arise in vivo from the metabolism of progesterone.

6. The 6β-hydroxylase subform of cytochrome P-450 3b is not expressed in a genetically defined strain of rabbits, IIIVO/J, indicating a heritable basis for the differential expression of the two subforms of cytochrome P-450 3b.

7. These results indicate that the extent of cytochrome P-450 multiplicity may be greater than is evident from the isolation of electrophoretically distinct forms of cytochrome P-450, and that small differences in structure may underlie large differences in catalytic properties.

8. It is not known whether the differences among outbred New Zealand White rabbits in the expression of either cytochrome P-450 1 or the subforms of cytochrome P-450 3b reflect regulatory phenomena or genetic polymorphism.     

Induction of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and peroxisome proliferation in rat liver caused by dietary exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate

Exposure of rats to 1% or 3% (w/w) di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate in the diet for five days results in two- to three-fold inductions of liver cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activity and microsomal cytochrome P-450 content. Cytochromes P-450b + e were induced 20- to 35-fold, but no increase was observed in cytochrome P-450c. Considerably smaller effects were obtained on NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, microsomal epoxide hydrolase and microsomal cytochrome b5 content, and there was no effect on cytosolic glutathione transferase activity, under the same conditions. A dramatic increase in cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation and total mitochondrial protein, together with smaller increases in total catalase and cytochrome oxidase activities, were observed after treatment with di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate, indicating that this compound causes proliferation of both peroxisomes and mitochondria. It is suggested that the induction of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase and the proliferation of peroxisomes may be related processes.     

Influence of estradiol and testosterone on cytochrome P-450 and monooxygenase activity in immature brook trout,Salvelinus fontinalis

Levels of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 were depressed by administration of estradiol-17β and were elevated by administration of testosterone in both male and female juvenile brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Treatment-associated changes in the levels of other microsomal electron transfer components in liver did not reflect the changes in cytochrome P-450 content and were also distinct from the changes in these components in kidney. Electrophoretic analysis of hepatic microsomes revealed that estradiol treatment reduced the amounts of several proteins including some heme-staining protein at 56,000 daltons, possibly containing cytochrome P-450. Hepatic microsomal benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase and the response to 7,8-benzoflavone in vitro were affected little by steroid treatment, and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity could not be detected in any of the samples. Hepatic microsomes metabolized testosterone to a suite of products including 6β-hydroxytestosterone (the major metabolite) and 16β-hydroxytestosterone, plus as many as eleven unknown metabolites. Estradiol-17β treatment depressed the rates of testosterone metabolism and particularly the rates of 6β-hydroxylase activity but did not affect 16β-hydroxylase activity. Both activities were largely unaffected by testosterone. The results are consistent with the idea that both androgens and estrogens regulate the levels of hepatic cytochrome P-450 in brook trout and that the effect, at least of estradiol-17β, involves regulation of forms that function in specific hydroxylation of testosterone. The significance of these effects and whether factors additional to steroids are involved in this regulation of hepatic cytochromes P-450 in fish remain to be established.     

Depression of rat testicular 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase after administration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

Toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), such as chloracne, hirsutism, and skin hyperpigmentation, suggest endocrine involvement, however, little is known about the effects of TCDD on steroidogenic organs. It is known that TCDD can cause decreases in testicular heme, testicular microsomal cytochrome P-450, and serum testosterone in the rat. This study was designed to examine the activities of the testicular hemoprotein microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes, 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase, following a single, oral dose of either 12.5, 25, or 50 micrograms/kg TCDD. TCDD caused dose- and time-dependent decreases in the activity of the 17-hydroxylase enzyme. Significant decreases were observed at 3, 7 and 14 days at the lowest dose of 12.5 micrograms/kg TCDD. The 17,20-lyase enzyme seemed to be less sensitive to the toxic effects of TCDD with significant decreases in enzyme activity being observed at days 3, 7 and 14 only after treatment with 50 micrograms/kg TCDD. Both microsomal cytochrome P-450 and serum testosterone levels decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner following 12.5, 25 and 50 micrograms/kg doses of TCDD. These results indicate that decreased testosterone production following treatment with TCDD is related to decreased activities of the testicular microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase.     

Induction of hepatic cytochrome P-450c-dependent monooxygenase activities by dantrolene in rat

The effect of dantrolene sodium, a skeletal muscle relaxant, on drug metabolizing enzymes has been investigated after treatment of rats with a dose of 200 mg/kg for five days. We observed an induction of cytochrome P-450c and epoxide hydrolase in immunoassays and activities. An enhancement of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (GT1) activity was observed. We also reported a decrease of both liver cytochrome P-450 content and microsomal cytochrome P-450b dependent N-demethylation activities. On the other hand, the binding of dantrolene on microsomal cytochrome P-450 produced a type I difference spectrum, these data were obtained with liver microsomal cytochrome P-450c induced by 3-methylcholanthrene.     

Comparison of monooxygenase activities and cytochrome P-450 isozyme concentrations in human liver microsomes

Concentrations of three human liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 isozymes and 20 different monooxygenase activities were determined in human liver microsomal preparations. The results of correlation analysis suggest that: there are important variations in the amounts of the three cytochrome P-450 isozymes measured, particularly P-450(8) and P-450(9); aldrin epoxidase, d-benzphetamine N-demethylase, and S-warfarin 4-hydroxylase activities are linked to cytochrome P-450(5); aryl hydrocarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase and 4-nitroanisole-O-demethylase activities are linked to P-450(8); hydroxylations at the 4'-, 6-, 7-, and 8-positions of R-warfarin are closely linked to each other but are not correlated with other measured monooxygenase activities or P-450 isozyme levels; and P-450(9) is not related to any of the catalytic activities tested. Thus, certain monooxygenase activities can be attributed to specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes. This approach should be useful in suggesting the roles of different cytochromes P-450 in drug metabolism in man which can be further examined using in vitro and in vivo methods.     

Comparison of kidney, lung and liver coumarin 7-hydroxylases in phenobarbital pretreated DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice

In this paper we describe catalytic and immunological properties of coumarin 7-hydroxylase, a cytochrome P-450 dependent enzyme activity, in the liver, kidney and lung of C57BL/67 and DBA/2J mice. Coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity was higher in D2 than in B6 mice in all three organs. For both strains of mice, liver had the highest enzyme activity when expressed per milligram of microsomal protein. However, when expressed per nmole cytochrome P-450 there was no difference in the enzyme activity between the tissues. Inhibition of microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylase by antibodies previously developed in our laboratory against a cytochrome P-450 fraction from D2 and B6 mouse liver, associated with coumarin 7-hydroxylase, occurred as follows. In D2 mice both antibodies caused approximately 50% inhibition of the enzyme activity of all three organs. In B6 mice, however, the only organ where considerable inhibition took place was the liver, and only when antibody against B6 cytochrome P-450 was used. Ouchterlony immunodiffusion analysis revealed a 100% crossreactivity between the two strains of mice when similar organs were compared. The 100% crossreactivity was also found between the liver and lung in both strains of mice. However, only a 50% crossreactivity was found between kidney and liver or kidney and lung in B6 and between the kidney and lung in D2. The data demonstrate interorgan and interstrain differences in the immunological and catalytical properties of cytochrome(s) P-450 catalysing coumarin 7-hydroxylation.     

Development of liver microsomal oxidations in the chick.

1. Liver microsomal preparations from chick embryos (1 day before hatching) and from 1-7 day old chicks were assayed for oxidative drug-metabolizing activity with aminopyrine, aniline and naphthalene as substrates. 2. Activities for all three substrates were highest in preparations from 1 day-old chicks. These were more than twice as active as the 7 day-old preparations and about three times as active as those from the embryos. 3. The increase in drug-metabolizing activities in newly-hatched chicks was the same for either sex and persisted for 3 days before declining towards the 7 day-old levels. 4. The developmental time-course fo the liver microsomal drug-metabolizing activities was independent of any factor in the 105 000 g supernatant fractions and of such microsomal parameters as cytochrome b5 and cytochrome P-450 content, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity, but was related to changes in NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase levels. 5. Treatment of 7 day-old chicks with exogenous inducers, 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbital sodium (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) brought about maximal stimulation of microsomal activity as 18-24 h. The time-course of this induction was reflected by changes in microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and NADPH-cytochrome P=450 reductase activities. 6. Some induction of liver microsomal drug metabolism in 7 day-old chicks could also be brought about by injecting certain lipid-soluble egg yolk extracts.     

Specific binding of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon inducers of cytochrome P-450d to the cytochrome and inhibition of its estradiol 2-hydroxylase activity

Treatment of male Sprague-Dawley rats with 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) at 10 mumol/kg followed by purification of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450d revealed that HBB remained specifically bound to P-450d throughout purification. Binding was noncovalent since HBB was removed by extraction with dichloromethane. Although HBB induced both cytochrome P-450c and P-450d, specific immunoprecipitation of these isozymes from HBB-treated rats showed that HBB was associated only with cytochrome P-450d. Quantitation of HBB and cytochrome P-450d in microsomes from HBB-treated rats suggested a 0.9:1 ratio of HBB to cytochrome P-450d. Five other halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon inducers of cytochrome P-450d, bearing steric similarity to HBB (including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), were associated with cytochrome P-450d when used to induce cytochrome P-450d in rats. HBB inhibited estradiol 2-hydroxylase activity of purified cytochrome P-450d in a noncompetitive manner with an I50 of 38 nM for 50 nM P-450d whereas its noncoplanar isomer, 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl, had an I50 over 700-fold higher. Thus certain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, with the capacity to induce cytochrome P-450d also bind to the cytochrome when used as inducing agents and inhibit catalytic activity of the cytochrome.