Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate suppresses tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in GH3 pituitary cells.

Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist, has been clinically used as an antitumor drug and induces apoptosis in GH3 pituitary cells. Although di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a well-known environmental estrogen and the exposure to this chemical is well expected, reports are limited regarding effects of DEHP on tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in pituitary cells. In the cytotoxicity assay, the reduced cell viability in tamoxifen-treated GH3 cells was reversed by DEHP (250 microM) treatment for 4 days. To characterize cell death, cells were stained using Hoechst 33258. Apoptotic morphological change such as chromatin condensation induced by tamoxifen was suppressed by treatment with DEHP. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the number of apoptotic cells induced by tamoxifen was significantly decreased by DEHP treatment. Enhanced poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage by tamoxifen treatment was also inhibited by DEHP. These results suggest that DEHP suppresses tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in association with its estrogenic effect in GH3 cells and might counteract the therapeutic effect of tamoxifen.

CYP2D-related metabolism in animals of the Canoidea superfamily - species differences.

CYP2D-related drug metabolism in liver microsomes from animals of the Canoidea super family, i.e. mink (Mustela vison), bears (Ursus arctos), foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and dogs, were investigated. Propranolol, bunitrolol and imipramine, which are typically substrates of CYP2D subfamilies, were used in the experiment. All the animals of the Canoidea superfamily that were tested lacked the ability to catalyse 7-hydroxylation of propranolol, which is one of the major metabolic pathways in rats. Stereoselectivity of propranolol metabolism was towards (S)-propranolol in all the reactions of the animals tested with the exception of mink, which showed a selective tendency towards (R)-propranolol in N-dealkylation. As far as metabolic patterns of (R)- and (S)-propranolol are concerned, bears, foxes and dogs are alike, but minks are somewhat different. Liver microsomes from mink showed, among the animals of the Canoidea superfamily, the lowest propranolol hydroxylase activity at 4- and 5-positions and imipramine 2-hydroxylation and {N-}demethylation activities. We could not detect bunitrolol 4-hydroxylation in mink liver microsomes at the low substrate concentration used. We conclude that mink have the lowest activity of CYP2D-related xenobiotic metabolism among the Canoidea superfamily.

AhR and PPARalpha: antagonistic effects on CYP2B and CYP3A, and additive inhibitory effects on CYP2C11.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates a spectrum of toxic and biological effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is a member of the nuclear receptor super-family of ligand-activated transcription factors and it functions as an obligate heterodimer with retinoid X-receptor alpha RXRalpha. The aim was to investigate whether the negative cross-talk recently proposed by the present authors between AhR and PPARalpha on CYP4A and CYP1A has any impact on other cytochrome P450 enzymes. Treatment of male Wistar rats with a PPARalpha ligand clofibric acid (CA) induced CYP2B1/2 and CYP3A proteins, activities, and the mRNA expression of CYP2B1, CYP2B2, CYP3A1 and CYP3A2, and suppressed CYP2C11 protein, activities and mRNA expression. AhR ligand Sudan III (S.III) treatment decreased basal and CA-induced CYP2B, CYP3A and CYP2C11 protein, activities and mRNA expression. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study showing the presence of mutual effects of AhR and PPARalpha on CYP2B and CYP3A and an additive inhibitory effect on CYP2C11 in the livers of male rats.

Uptake of the dopaminergic neurotoxin, norsalsolinol, into PC12 cells via dopamine transporter.

The uptake of norsalsolinol, a neurotoxin candidate causing parkinsonism-like symptoms, was studied in PC12 cells. The compound was actively taken up by the PC12 cells, with a Km value of 176.24 +/-9.1 microM and a maximum velocity of 55.6 +/- 7.0 pmol/min per mg protein; norsalsolinol uptake was dependent on the presence of extracellular Na+. The uptake of norsalsolinol was sensitive to two dopamine transporter inhibitors, GBR-12909 and reserpine, but was less sensitive to desipramine, a noradrenaline transporter inhibitor. Dopamine competitively inhibited norsalsolinol uptake into PC12 cells with a Ki value of 271.2 +/- 61.6 microM. These results suggest that norsalsolinol is taken up into PC12 cells mainly by the dopamine transporter.

Norsalsolinol uptake into secretory vesicles via vesicular monoamine transporter and its secretion by membrane depolarization or purinoceptor stimulation in PC12 cells.

The intracellular dynamics of norsalsolinol, a neurotoxin candidate causing parkinsonism-like symptoms, in PC12 cells was studied. We found that dopamine and norsalsolinol are co-localized to secretory granule layer by sucrose density gradient in norsalsolinol-treated PC12 cells. The norsalsolinol was actively taken up into isolated secretory vesicle fraction from PC12 cells with a Km value of 41.5+/-6.8 microM. The uptake of 10 microM of norsalsolinol was sensitive to reserpine (1 microM), an inhibitor of vesicular dopamine transporter, and dopamine, an endogenous substrate, but insensitive to GBR-12909, an inhibitor of dopamine transporter on plasma membrane. In norsalsolinol-treated PC12 cells, exposure to high K+ or ATP resulted in simultaneous release of norsalsolinol and dopamine. Time course of a release of dopamine and that of norsalsolinol evoked by 50 mM KCl or 100 microM ATP corresponded to each other. These releases were dependent on the concentrations of secretagogues. These data suggest that norsalsolinol is taken up with dopamine into secretory vesicle via vesicular catecholamine transporter.

Negative correlation between plasma thyroid hormone levels and chlorinated hydrocarbon levels accumulated in seals from the coast of Hokkaido, Japan.

Chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) levels in the blubber of larga seals (Phoca largha) and ribbon seals (Phoca fasciata) collected from the coastal waters of Hokkaido, Japan, were determined in order to assess the hormonal effects of CHC exposure in free-ranging pinnipeds. Plasma thyroid hormone levels, including total thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (free T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), and free triiodothyronine (free T3), were also measured. Higher concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites, and chlordane compounds were found in the range of 380 to 2,600 ng/g, 350 to 2,600 ng/g, and 120 to 760 ng/g on a wet-weight basis, respectively. Spearman rank correlation analyses showed that in larga seals, plasma total T3 and free T3 levels negatively correlated with levels of all the CHCs analyzed, although there was no such correlation between total or free T4 levels and CHC concentrations. In ribbon seals, total T3 levels significantly decreased with an increase of di-ortho PCB (PCB170 and 180) residues. These findings indicated that the plasma T3 deficiency could be associated with some CHC exposure in larga and ribbon seals and that the responses of plasma thyroid hormones may be useful biomarkers for CHC exposure in ribbon seals.

Inhibitory effects of endogenous dopaminergic neurotoxin, norsalsolinol on dopamine secretion in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells.

Naturally occurring neurotoxins, 6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (DHTIQs), thought to be the causative agents of Parkinsonism. DHTIQs including norsalsolinol have been found in the mammalian central nervous system. Norsalsolinol can be formed by a non-enzymatic Pictet-Spengler condensation reaction between dopamine and formaldehyde, and has been detected in the urine of Parkinsonian patients. However, the effects of DHTIQs on the secretion of dopamine, as well as other neurotransmitters, are not well understood. This study investigated the effects of norsalsolinol on dopamine secretion from nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells. Norsalsolinol (1-100 microM) pretreatment suppressed both ATP (100 microM)- and K(+) (50 mM)-induced dopamine secretion from PC12 cells in a concentration-dependent fashion, but did not affect basal dopamine secretion. In beta-escin-permeabilized PC12 cells, norsalsolinol pretreatment suppressed Ca(2+) (pCa=4-8)-induced dopamine secretion, but did not inhibit the secretagogue-induced change in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. These results suggest that norsalsolinol causes the inhibition of secretagogue-induced dopamine secretion from PC12 cells without altering intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. Inhibition of dopamine secretion by norsalsolinol may also be involved in postural abnormality in Parkinson's disease.

The antioxidant effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on copper-induced acute hepatitis in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats.

The Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, due to a genetic defect, accumulate excess copper (Cu) in the liver in a manner similar to patients with Wilson's disease and spontaneously develop acute hepatitis with severe jaundice. In this study we examined the protective effect of DL-alpha-Lipoic acid (LA) against acute hepatitis in LEC rats. LA was administered to LEC rats by gavage in doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg five times per week, starting at 8-weeks-old and continuing till 12-weeks-old. Although LA had little effect against the increases in serum transaminase activities, it suppressed the loss of body weight and prevented severe jaundice in a dose-dependent manner. Antioxidant system analyses in liver showed that LA treatment significantly suppressed the inactivations of catalase and glutathione peroxidase, and the induction of heme oxygenase-1, an enzyme which is inducible under oxidative stress. Furthermore, LA showed dose-dependent suppressive effect against increase in nonheme iron contents of both cytosolic and crude mitochondrial fractions in a dose-dependent manner. Although at the highest dose, LA slightly suppressed the accumulation of Cu in crude mitochondrial fraction, it had no effect on the accumulation of Cu in cytosolic fraction. While LA completely suppressed the increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the microsomal fraction at the highest dose, the suppressive effect against LPO in crude mitochondrial fractions was slight. From these results, it is concluded that LA has antioxidant effects at the molecular level against the development of Cu-induced hepatitis in LEC rats. Moreover, mitochondrial oxidative damage might be involved in the development of acute hepatitis in LEC rats.

In vivo evidence for accelerated generation of hydroxyl radicals in liver of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats with acute hepatitis.

The Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats accumulate excess copper (Cu) in the liver in a manner similar to patients with Wilson's disease (WD) and spontaneously develop acute hepatitis with severe jaundice. Although hydroxyl radicals (*OH) have been proposed to be a cause of hepatitis by the accumulation of Cu, it is not clear whether or not *OH can be produced in the liver of hepatitic LEC rats in vivo and also can be involved in the onset of hepatitis. In the present study, *OH production in plasma and liver of hepatitic LEC rats was quantified by trapping *OH with salicylic acid (SA) as 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2, 3-DHBA). The ratios of 2, 3-DHBA/SA were significantly higher in plasma and liver of hepatitic LEC rats than those of Wistar rats and LEC rats showing no signs of hepatitis. Furthermore, the ratios of 2, 3-DHBA/SA in plasma and liver of hepatitic LEC rats were almost the same as those of Wistar rats treated orally with CuSO(4) (0.5 mmol/kg) 2 h before acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) injection. We also evaluated the protective effects of D-mannitol (a *OH scavenger) treatment against acute hepatitis in LEC rats. D-mannitol (500 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to 10-week-old LEC rats for 3 weeks. D-mannitol treatment suppressed the increases in serum aspartate aminotransferase activity and total bilirubin concentration. In addition, D-mannitol treatment significantly reduced hepatic mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, which is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of Cu-induced hepatotoxicity. These observations suggest that accelerated generation of *OH catalyzed by free Cu in the liver may, at least in part, play a role in the pathogenesis of acute hepatitis in LEC rats.

P450 in wild animals as a biomarker of environmental impact.

The impact of environmental pollution on selected animals was tested by monitoring the hepatic content of cytochromes P450 and their enzyme activities or by calculating TEQ values from the concentration of pollutants in the body. Fish-eating Stellars Sea Eagles, Haliaeetus pelagicus, found dead in the northern part of Hokkaido island accumulated high levels of PCBs and DDT and metabolites. The TEQ values calculated from the PCB concentration in the eagles were high enough to cause a significant toxic effect in other birds living in the same environment. Some of these birds were also contaminated with high concentrations of lead. Spotted seals, Phoca largha, captured along the coast-line of Hokkaido accumulated PCBs in their fat at about 100 million times the concentrations in the surface sea water. The levels of expressions of hepatic microsomal CYP 1A1and related enzyme activities in these seals showed good correlation to the levels of PCBs accumulated in the fat. The fresh water crabs, Eriocheir japonicus, were captured from three different rivers with various degrees of pollution. The P450 content and the related enzyme activities showed good correlation to TEQ values obtained from the concentrations of PCBs and PCDDs in the crabs from the rivers. The wild rodents, Clethrionomys rufocanus, were captured from urban, agricultural, and forest areas in Hokkaido. Those from the forest area had the lowest CYP content and related enzyme activities, comparable to those in laboratory-raised animals. Those from the urban areas, presumably contaminated with PAHs from fuel combustion, showed increased CYP 1A1 content and related enzyme activities. Those from the agricultural areas showed increased levels of CYP 1A1, 2B, 2E1. Rats treated with some of the agrochemicals used in the area resulted in a similar pattern of induction. It is concluded that P450 can be a useful biomarker for assessing the environmental impact of chemical pollutants on wild animals.

Identification of novel cytochrome P450 1A genes from five marine mammal species.

Marine mammals, being endangered by the chronic exposure of hydrophobic environmental contaminants as an assorting result of global pollution, are especially focused as indicators for organochlorine pollution. The use of contaminant-induced xenobiotic metabolizers, particularly P450 (CYP) 1A, in marine mammals can be effective as potential biomarkers of the contaminant exposure and/or toxic effects. In this study, we identified the first marine mammalian CYPs. Six novel CYP1A cDNA fragments were cloned from the livers of marine mammal species, minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), largha seal (Phoca largha), and ribbon seal (Phoca fasciata) by the method of reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR); two distinct fragments were from steller sea lion and one fragment each was obtained from the other species. Five of the fragments, one from each species, were classified in the subfamily of CYP1A1, and the other fragment cloned from steller sea lion was designated CYP1A2. Degenerate PCR primers were used to amplify the fragments from liver cDNAs. The deduced amino acid sequences of these fragment CYP1As showed identities ranging from 50.0 to 94.3% with other known vertebrate CYPs in the subfamily of CYP1A, including those from fish, chicken, and terrestrial mammals. The isolated fragments were used to construct a molecular phylogeny, along with other vertebrate CYP1A cDNAs cut down in size to the corresponding region of 265 bp in which those newly determined fragments were cloned. This phylogenetic analysis by the maximum parsimony method using the PHYLIP program suggests two distinct evolutional pathways for aquatic mammalian CYP1As, compatible to a conservative taxonomy. Pinniped genes are clustered together with dog gene, forming a carnivore group, and cetaceans form another branch. Identification of CYP1A genes in marine mammals will be an introductory step to provide new insights into the metabolic or toxicological functions of CYP1As in these animals.

FTIR spectroscopic and HPLC chromatographic studies of carbon tetrachloride induced acute hepatitis in rats: damage in liver phospholipid membrane.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced rat hepatitis was studied by observing an FTIR spectrum of the liver microsomal or homogenate extract compared with those of model compounds. The microsomal extract from the liver of healthy control rats showed almost the same spectrum as a mixture of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine (2:1 by weight). Intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 decreased the absorption intensity due to th --C--H in the--C==H at 3012 cm(-1) in the microsomal extract, and it developed a new 1,2-diacylglycerol band at 1070 cm(-1) in the homogenate extract. An HPLC study was added to assign the 1070 cm(-1) band to 1,2-diacylglycerol. These findings were interpreted from the peroxidation of the microsomal membrane and the regenerative proliferation of the damaged cell.

Accumulation of diacylglycerol induced by CCl4-derived radicals in rat liver membrane and its inhibition with radical trapping reagent--FT-IR spectroscopic and HPLC chromatographic observations.

We have investigated the accumulation of diacylglycerol (DAG) induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-derived radicals in the liver of female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after intraperitoneally injecting CCl4. DAG is an intracellular activator of protein kinase C (PKC) which regulates cell proliferation and differentiation. The electron spin resonance (ESR) study gave the signal of the PBN-CCl3 adduct in the liver of the rats which were pretreated with PBN, confirming that CCl4 was metabolized into CCl3. radicals with cytochrome P450 enzyme and indicating that PBN could trap them. The blood biochemical assay supported the trapping of the CCl3. radicals; the pretreatment of rats with PBN inhibited the increase in the GOT and GPT values upon exposure to CCl4. The Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) study indicated in comparison with the model compounds that the CCl4-injected rats accumulated DAG in addition to phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and triglyceride (TG) in the lipid membrane fraction of the liver homogenate. DAG was found to be ca. 10-15% of the membrane phospholipids by weight. However, DAG was not found in the lipid of the liver microsomes, suggesting that it is formed only in the cell membrane of liver. Also, neither DAG nor TG was found in the lipid membrane of the rats that were pretreated with PBN followed by an injection of CCl4. The formation of DAG was confirmed by an HPLC study. The activation of PKC was observed in liver homogenate in the rats that were injected with CCl4. On the basis of the above findings, it was concluded that the CCl4-derived radicals stimulate PKC through the accumulation of DAG in the liver membrane of the rats. Furthermore, it was shown that PBN has a protective and therapeutic effect against CCl4-induced damage.

Application of FT-IR and ESR spectroscopic techniques to the study of CCl4-induced peroxidation in rat liver microsomes.

FT-Ir and ESR were used for on the investigation of the CCl4-induced peroxidation of rat liver microsomes in combination with biochemical methods. Lipid peroxidation was assayed by TBA reagent in the presence of CCl4 and NADPH. The CCl3. radical was detected by ESR spectroscopy with a spin trapping reagent of PBN. The FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that absorption band of -C-H in -C=C-H decreased in intensity at 3012 cm-1, but the absorption bands of the phosphate head and choline in the phospholipids did not significantly change between 1300 and 900 cm-1. These findings were interpreted to be due to the removal of H. from -C=C-H by radicals as the first step of lipid peroxidation, and to the absence of dephosphorylation of phospholipids in the microsomal membrane. This is the first IR spectroscopic evidence indicating the nature of damage to a microsomal membrane caused by CCl4 treatment. The spectroscopies used here demonstrated that they are useful tools to observe the damage to microsomal membranes.

Accumulation of diacylglycerol in the liver membrane of the Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat with hepatitis: FT-IR spectroscopic and HPLC detection.

Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats develop severe hepatitis and subsequent hepatoma with excess accumulation of copper in the liver with increasing age. Lipids extracted from the LEC rat liver membrane were studied using FT-IR spectroscopy and an HPLC technique at the stages of pre-hepatitis and hepatitis, i.e. at 10 and 16 weeks of age, respectively. The 10-week-old rats exhibited an IR spectrum characteristic of a phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine mixture with a ratio of 2:1. The 16-week-old rats developed new absorption bands at 1161 and 1070 cm(-1), which were assigned to the spectra of triglyceride, neutral lipid, and diacylglycerol, an endogenous activator of protein kinase C, respectively. The diacylglycerol was estimated to amount to ca. 10% (w/w) of phospholipid extract by comparing the spectrum with those of model compounds. This was confirmed using an HPLC assay. Previously, we found that a serum response factor is activated by copper in the LEC rat liver, and suggested that it must mediate proto-oncogene c-fos induction. The results obtained here suggest that accumulation of diacylglycerol plays an important role in development of hepatoma in LEC rats by mediating proto-oncogene c-fos induction.

Decrease in hepatic CYP2C11 mRNA and increase in heme oxygenase activity after intracerebroventricular injection of bacterial endotoxin.

We previously reported (Arch. Toxcol. 1998, 72, 492-498) that the differential decrease in the levels of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes in rats was observed 24 hr after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at the dose ineffective (0.1 microgram) when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.). Among CYP isozymes we examined, the male specific CYP isozyme, CYP2C11 was most severely affected by i.c.v. injection of LPS. In this study, we examined the gene expression of CYP2C11, the total P450 contents, the CYP2C11-dependent activity of imipramine N-demethylase (IMND) and protein of CYP2C11 10 hr after i.c.v. or i.p. injections of LPS. Intracerebroventricular injection of LPS significantly decreased the level of CYP2C11 mRNA (to 63% of saline i.c.v. control), the total P450 contents (to 70% of saline i.c.v. control), the IMND activity (to 74% of saline i.c.v. control), but not protein of CYP2C11 in rat liver. In contrast, i.p. injection of LPS at the same dose as i.c.v. did not significantly affect these parameters. Since CYP is a heme protein, we also measured the activity of heme oxygenase (HO) using the same rat liver microsomes. The HO activity was increased to 166% by i.c.v. injection of LPS and 135% by i.p. injection of LPS compared to corresponding saline control. It is suggested that i.c.v. injection of LPS down-regulates the expression of CYP2C11 at transcriptional level and that both the decrease in CYP2C11 mRNA and the increase in heme degradation may be involved in the decreased level of protein and activity of CYP2C11 by i.c.v. injection of LPS in rat liver.

Cytochrome P450 isoforms responsible for the N-deethylation and cyclohexane-hydroxylation of NS-21.

1. Cytochrome P450 (P450) isoforms responsible for the N-deethylation and cyclohexane-hydroxylation of (+/-)-4-diethylamino-1,1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate (NS-21) have been identified in rat and man. 2. Anti-CYP2C11 antibody inhibited the N-deethylation of S- and R-NS-21 in rat hepatic microsomes by 84 and 66% respectively, indicating that CYP2C11 is mainly responsible for these activities in male rats. 3. Of several human recombinant P450 isoforms, CYP3A4 had the activities for the N-deethylation of S- and R-NS-21. In addition, triacetyloleandomycin (TAO), an inhibitor of the CYP3A subfamily, significantly inhibited the N-deethylation of S- and R-NS-21 in human hepatic microsomes by 67 and 69%, respectively. CYP3A4 therefore contributes to it in man. 4. Quinine, an inhibitor of the rat CYP2D subfamily, significantly inhibited the cyclohexane-4-cis-hydroxylation of S-NS-21 by 48% in rat hepatic microsomes. In contrast, this inhibitor had little effect on the cyclohexane-4-trans-hydroxylation of S-NS-21, and the cyclohexane-4-cis- and trans-hydroxylation of R-NS-21. 5. Human recombinant CYP3A4 catalysed the cyclohexane-4-trans-hydroxylation of S-NS-21, and CYP2D6 supported the cyclohexane-4-cis- and trans-hydroxylation of S-NS-21. Quinidine, an inhibitor of human CYP2D6, had little effect on these latter activities in human hepatic microsomes. TAO significantly inhibited the cyclohexane-4-trans-hydroxylation of S-NS-21 by 75%, indicating that CYP3A4 catalyses this reaction.

Mechanism of decrease in levels of hepatic P450 isozymes induced by intracerebral endotoxin: independence from sympathetic nervous and adrenocortical systems.

We previously reported that lipoplysaccharide (LPS) injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at an ineffective dose (0.1 microgram/rat) decreased the drug metabolizing activities and related cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes in rat liver microsomes when injected intraperitoneally (i.p.). The dose study (doses < 0.1 microgram intracerebrally and > 0.1 microgram i.p.), which was carried out to examine how much more effective is i.c.v.-LPS than i.p.-LPS, showed that the pattern of alteration of expression of CYP isozymes induced by i.c.v.-LPS was different from that caused by i.p.-LPS at an effective dose (10 micrograms/rat). These results indicate that the decrease in hepatic CYP isozymes caused by i.c.v.-LPS could not be explained by the LPS leaked from the brain, suggesting that the decrease in hepatic CYP isozymes by i.c.v.-LPS may be caused by a central action of LPS. In this study, the possible involvement of sympathetic nervous and adrenocortical systems in the down-regulation of CYP isozymes by i.c.v.-LPS was investigated using surgical or chemical sympathetecomized or adrenalectomized rats. The norepinephrine (NE) content in the liver in rats with surgical hepatic sympathetectomy was reduced by 88% compared with that of sham-operated rats that received i.c.v.-saline and 85% compared with that of sham-operated rats that received i.c.v.-LPS, indicating that hepatic denervation was successful. The NE content in the liver in rats chemically sympathetectomized by two i.p. injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (40 mg/kg each time) 1 and 2 days before i.c.v. injection was reduced by 82% in i.c.v.-saline-treated and by 74% in i.c.v.-LPS-treated groups compared with that in rats pretreated with i.p.-saline. These results indicate that sympathetic NE terminals were effectively removed. Intracerebroventricular LPS decreased the total P450 content and the activities of CYP dependent drug metabolizing enzymes, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase (PROD), imipramine N-demethylase (IMND) and erythromycin N-demethylase (ERND) after 24 h in both sympathetectomized rats and non-denervated rats. Adrenalectomy (ADX) reduced the level of corticosterone in serum by 81% compared to sham-operated rats, indicating that adrenalectomy was successful. ADX did not inhibit the decrease in the total P450 content and the metabolism of drugs induced by i.c.v.-LPS, but more profoundly emphasized the inhibitory effect of i.c.v.-LPS than the sham-operation. These results suggest that the sympathetic nervous systems both directly and indirectly innervating the liver do not participate in the primary mechanism of the decrease in the activities of CYP isozymes in rat liver microsomes induced by i.c.v.-LPS. Also, the adrenal glands, especially the adrenocortical system, play a suppressive role in the decrease in CYP isozymes caused by i.c.v.-LPS.

Effects of concurrent exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene and vitamin A on fetal development in rats.

To investigate the effect of the environmental pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on retinoic acid-induced teratogenesis, all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) dissolved in corn oil (120 mg/kg) was administered orally to pregnant rats at the 11th day of gestation with and without the prior intraperitoneal treatment with 10 mg/kg 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) for 3 days. Dams were killed on the 20th day of pregnancy. The examinations of fetuses revealed that 3-MC barely enough to cause induction of P-450 in pregnant dams had profound embryo-toxic effects: the fetal resorption amounted to approximately 60% of total number of implantations. The fetuses survived weighed less than the control fetuses. All of RA-treated mothers had fetuses with abnormalities, and the main malformations were absence of tail (100%), caudal and sacral malformations (100%), and cleft palate (42%). Pregnant dams received both 3-MC and RA had a reduced severity of tail anomaly (33%), while the rest, 67%, had short vestigial tail. Caudal and sacral malformations were detected but at a milder degree. We did not observe cleft palate in this group. The concurrent treatment of dams with 3-MC and RA led to an increased inducibility of cytochrome P-450 and subsequently, CYP1A1 dependent enzyme activity higher than those observed after the injection of 3-MC alone. UDP-glucuronyl-transferase activity was also markedly induced in concurrent 3-MC and RA group higher than that in 3-MC alone. We suggest that the induction of P-450 and alteration of metabolic enzyme activities may play an important role in reducing the teratogenic potency of RA. However, RA-treatment did not retard the embryo-toxic effect of 3-MC but rather potentiated.

Characterization of hepatic cytochrome P450 isozyme composition in the transgenic rat expressing low level human growth hormone.

1. The present authors have previously developed a transgenic rat carrying a chimeric gene of the mouse whey acidic protein promoter and the structural portion of human growth hormone (GH) gene. Among this (hGH-TG) rat, a line (low GH rat) missing a male-specific pulsatile GH secretary pattern due to suppression of endogenous GH secretion and having a continuous low GH (hGH and rat GH) level in the peripheral circulation was identified. The latter rat was also characterized as having severe obesity with age. This strain (low Gh rat) was used to correlate the sex-specific secretory pattern of GH with the sex-specific expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) in rat. 2. Comparisons were made between the low GH rat and the non-transgenic rat as to the expression of liver microsomal CYP isozymes. The following enzyme activities were assessed: testosterone (T) hydroxylation and oxidation; ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation (EROD); bunitrolol (BTL) 4-hydroxylation and T5 alpha-reduction. Protein expression of CYP1A, CYP2C11, CYP2D, CYP2E1, CYP3A2 and CYP4A1 were also assessed by Western blot analysis. 3. Enzyme activities and protein expression of CYP2C11 (T16 alpha and 2alpha-hydroxylase and 17-oxidase activities) and CYP3A2 (T6beta and 2beta-hydroxylase activities) levels, which are known to be higher in the male than in the female rat, were significantly lower in the adult male low GH rat than in the control male rat. In contrast, CYP2A1 (T7 alpha-hydroxylase) and T5-alpha-reductase activities, which are known to be specifically elevated in the female, were significantly higher in the adult male low GH rat than in the control male rat. Thus, the loss of male-specific secretory pattern of GH results in feminization of the pattern of expression of CYP and T5 alpha-reductase activity in the liver. 4. In contrast to other GH-deficient models so far studied, an increase in CYP4A1 and a decrease in CYP2E1 protein expression were observed in the low GH rat. These trends are consistent with the characteristic phenotype of obesity in the transgenic rat because CYP4A1 and CYP2E1 enhance fatty acid excretion and glyconeogenesis from fatty acids respectively.