3-Methylcholanthrene impacts on the female germ cells of rats without causing systemic toxicity.

We have previously shown that daily exposure to the environmental pollutant 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) alters the ovarian function by affecting follicle growth and ovulation. To extend our findings, the aims of this work were to study the effects of daily and non-daily exposure to 3MC on oocyte morphology and integrity and the meiosis process. To this end, immature female rats were daily (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) and non-daily (0.1 mg/kg, three times a week) exposed to 3MC and/or α-naphthoflavone (αNF) (80 mg/kg) for 19 and 20 days, respectively. The latter was used to study its ability to prevent the 3MC action. Follicular growth was examined by histology, apoptosis by in situ cell death detection, oocyte integrity by morphological parameters and fluorescent dyes, and the meiotic spindle by immunostaining. Compared with controls (C), and in a dose-dependent manner, all 3MC-treated rats showed i) increased presence of apoptotic cells in antral follicles and decreased percentage of healthy oocytes, ii) increased oocyte area, perimeter and perivitelline space and decreased thickness of the zona pellucida, and ii) increased percentage of oocytes with abnormal meiotic spindle. In addition, the non-daily dose of 3MC caused DNA damage in oocytes, but not in blood or bone marrow cells. All 3MC-induced changes were prevented with the co-treatment with αNF. These results suggest that low doses of 3MC severely disrupt the ovarian function and that germ cells seem to be more sensitive to this environmental pollutant than other cells such as peripheral blood and bone marrow cells.

The systemic and gonadal toxicity of 3-methylcholanthrene is prevented by daily administration of α-naphthoflavone.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) on sexual maturity and the ability of α-naphthoflavone (αNF) to prevent this action. To this end, immature rats were daily injected intraperitoneally with 3MC (0.1 or 1mg/kg) and/or αNF (80mg/kg). Body weight, vaginal opening and estrous cycle were recorded and ovaries were obtained on the day of estrus. Ovarian weight, ovulation rate (measured by the number of oocytes within oviducts), and follicular development (determined by histology) were studied. No differences were found in body weight, ovarian weight, day of vaginal opening, or the establishment of the estrous cycle among the different groups of rats. However, animals treated with 3MC, at both doses, exhibited a lower number of primordial, primary, preantral and antral follicles than controls. Also, 3MC inhibited the ovulation rate and induced an overexpression of both the Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 genes, measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. The daily treatment with αNF alone increased the number of follicles in most of the stages analyzed when compared with controls. Moreover, the αNF treatment prevented completely not only the 3MC-induced decrease in all types of follicles but also the 3MC-induced overexpression of Cyp enzymes and the genetic damage in bone marrow cells and oocytes. These results suggest that (i) daily exposure to 3MC during the pubertal period destroys the follicle reserve and alters the ovulation rate; (ii) the 3MC action seems to be mediated by an aryl hydrocarbon receptor-dependent mechanism; (iii) daily administration of αNF has a clear stimulatory action on the ovarian function; and (iv) αNF may prevent both the systemic and gonadal 3MC-induced toxicity.

Selective targeting of FAK-Pyk2 axis by alpha-naphthoflavone abrogates doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer cells.

Despite an initial positive response, breast cancer cells inevitably acquire resistance to doxorubicin (Dox). Alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) is a well-known chemopreventive agent; however, its anti-cancer properties have not been established. We examined the therapeutic efficacy of ANF in doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7/Dox) breast cancer cells and investigated its underlying molecular mechanisms of action. MCF-7/Dox cells expressed constitutively active forms of the tyrosine kinases: focal adhesion kinase (FAK-Y397) and protein tyrosine kinase 2 beta (Pyk2- Y579/580) compared with parental MCF-7 cells. ANF significantly enhanced the sensitivity of MCF-7/Dox cells to Dox cytotoxicity in vitro and when co-administered in vivo. This ANF-mediated chemosensitization has dual mechanisms of action: (a) intracellular Dox retention via suppression of P-glycoprotein pump activity, and (b) inhibition of clonogenic cell survival via de-phosphorylation of FAK, Pyk2, and EGF-induced Akt in MCF-7/Dox cells and tumor xenografts. Because of its strong chemosensitization action, broad safety profile, and health benefits, ANF is an attractive anti-cancer drug with therapeutic implications to circumvent drug resistance in breast cancer patients.

Individual and joint toxic effects of cadmium sulfate and α-naphthoflavone on the development of zebrafish embryo.

This paper aims to evaluate the individual and joint toxicities of cadmium sulfate (CdSO4) and α-naphthoflavone (ANF) in zebrafish embryos. As a result, CdSO4 caused both lethal and sub-lethal effects, such as 24 h post-fertilization (hpf) death and 72 hpf delayed hatching. However, ANF only caused sub-lethal effects, including 48 hpf cardiac edema and 72 hpf delayed hatching. Taking 24 hpf death and 48 hpf cardiac edema as endpoints, the toxicities of CdSO4 and ANF were significantly enhanced by each other. Consistently, both CdSO4 and ANF caused significant oxidative stress, including decreases in the reduced glutathione (GSH) level, inhibition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, as well as increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) content in zebrafish embryos, but these mixtures produced much more significant alterations on the biomarkers. Co-treatment of CdSO4 and ANF significantly down-regulated the mRNA level of multidrug resistance-associated protein (mrp) 1 and cytochrome P450 (cyp) 1a, which constituted the protective mechanisms for zebrafish embryos to chemical toxins. In conclusion, co-treatment of CdSO4 and ANF exhibited a much more severe damage in zebrafish embryos than individual treatment. Meanwhile, production of oxidative stress and altered expression of mrp1 and cyp1a could be important components of such joint toxicity.

Daily treatment with α-naphthoflavone enhances follicular growth and ovulation rate in the rat.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and the first protein involved in a variety of physiological and toxicological processes, including those of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. AhR has been found in the ovary of many species and seems to mediate the ovarian toxicity of many environmental contaminants, which are AhR ligands. However, the role of AhR in the ovarian function is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the action of α-naphthoflavone (αNF), known to be an AhR antagonist, on both follicular growth and ovulation. Immature Sprague-Dawley rats were daily injected intraperitoneally with αNF (0.1-80 mg/kg) or vehicle for 12 days, and primed with gonadotrophins (eCG/hCG) to induce follicular growth and ovulation. Ovaries were obtained 20 h after hCG administration. By means of immunohistochemistry, we found that the numbers of primordial, primary and antral follicles were increased in rats treated with 80 mg/kg αNF and that there were no differences with other doses. Likewise, the ovarian weight and the ovulation rate, measured by both number of oocytes within oviducts and corpora lutea in ovarian sections, were increased when the rats received either 1 or 10mg/kg daily. Although further studies are necessary to know the mechanism of action of αNF, it is possible that the different ovarian processes can be differentially responsive to the presence of different levels of αNF, and that the same or different endogenous AhR ligands can be involved in these ovarian processes in a cell type-dependent manner.

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the flavonoid 7,8-benzoflavone in rats.

The flavonoid 7,8-benzoflavone was recently identified as one of the most potent inhibitors of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP); however, little is known of the in vivo disposition of 7,8-benzoflavone. The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of 7,8-benzoflavone in rats. Three intravenous (5, 10, and 25 mg/kg) and three oral (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) doses were administered to female Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic analysis was conducted by WinNonlin and ADAPT II. The dose-normalized plasma concentration versus time curves did not superimpose with each other, indicating the nonlinear pharmacokinetics of 7,8-benzoflavone. 7,8-benzoflavone exhibited a large volume of distribution (V(ss) approximately 1.5 L/kg) and rapid oral absorption (t(max) < 30 min). The bioavailability of 7,8-benzoflavone was low (0.61-13.2%) and dose-dependent. A pharmacokinetic model with dose-dependent bioavailability, linear absorption and nonlinear elimination best described the pharmacokinetic profiles of 7,8-benzoflavone. Using a 50 mg/kg oral dose of 7,8-benzoflavone, we could significantly increase the AUC for the BCRP substrate nitrofurantoin, demonstrating the potential for BCRP-mediated drug interactions.

Influence of beta-naphthoflavone on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene metabolism, DNA adduction, and tumorigenicity in rainbow trout.

Metabolism, DNA adduction, and tumor induction by 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) were examined in cultured trout liver cells and in vivo in trout. Modulating CYP1A1 activity indicated this enzyme plays a significant role in metabolizing DMBA to water-soluble compounds in isolated trout liver cells. The major DMBA metabolites identified in trout liver cells were 10-, 11-, 8,9-, and 5,6-DMBA dihydrodiols, and DMBA, 2- or 3- or 4-phenol; 7-OH-methyl-12-methyl-benz(a)anthracene and 12-OH-methyl-7-methyl-benz(a)anthracene were minor metabolites. A very small amount of DMBA-3,4-dihydrodiol was detected, and polar metabolites, which did not migrate with any DMBA metabolite standards, were observed. Incubating trout hepatocytes with DMBA-3, 4-dihydrodiol produced three prominent, nonpolar adducts indistinguishable from those in mouse embryo cells. However, DMBA-DNA adducts, formed in trout in vivo or in trout liver cells exposed to DMBA, were predominantly more polar than those formed in mouse embryo fibroblasts, and levels of DMBA-DNA adducts formed in trout liver cells were not significantly altered by modulating CYP1A1 activity. No significant repair of DMBA-DNA adducts was detected in cultured trout liver cells over a 48-h period, supporting previous studies indicating that fish are less efficient than mammals in repairing polyaromatic hydrocarbon DNA adducts. Compared to animals receiving DMBA alone, beta-naphthoflavone pretreatment in vivo did not affect hepatic CYP1A1, DMBA-DNA adducts, nor hepatic tumor response; but did significantly reduce tumor response in two other target organs. These results collectively indicate that DMBA bioactivation to DNA-binding metabolites in trout liver cells and mouse embryo cells predominantly involve different metabolic pathways to form the DNA-binding intermediates.

Inhibitory activity of vitamin E and alpha-naphthoflavone on beta-carotene-enhanced transformation of BALB/c 3T3 cells by benzo(a)pyrene and cigarette-smoke condensate.

We previously found that beta-carotene (betaCT) can act as a co-carcinogenic agent enhancing the cell transforming activity of powerful carcinogens such as benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and cigarette-smoke condensate (TAR) in an in vitro medium-term ( approximately 8 weeks) experimental model utilizing BALB/c 3T3 cells (Mutat. Res. 440 (1999) 83-90). Here, we investigated whether vitamin E (VitE) and alpha-naphthoflavone (alphaNF) are able to affect the co-carcinogenic activity of betaCT in terms of inhibiting B(a)P and TAR cell transforming potential. The following experimental schedules were performed: (i) cultures treated for 72 h with chemicals in various experimental combinations (acute treatment); (ii) cultures grown in presence of tester agents for the whole period of the assay (chronic treatment) to more closely mimic human exposure. While the co-carcinogenic potential of betaCT was confirmed on both B(a)P and TAR, the latter being ineffective by itself, we found in repeated experiments that the presence of VitE or alphaNF significantly reduced the betaCT's enhancing effect in the formation of transformation foci by B(a)P and TAR. The mechanism of the inhibition could be explained by the known ability of alphaNF to inhibit cytochrome P450-linked B(a)P-bioactivating monooxygenases, while VitE may contrast the prooxidant activity of betaCT (e.g., oxygen radicals overgeneration). While highlighting the importance of increasing knowledge of the role of single provitamins, vitamins and micronutrients, our findings also underline the potential advantages of combining several dietary supplements in in vitro preventive investigations.

Evaluation of phenobarbital/beta-naphthoflavone as an alternative S9-induction regime to Aroclor 1254 in the rat for use in in vitro genotoxicity assays.

A series of bacterial mutation, mammalian cell (L5178Y) gene mutation and in vitro cytogenetic assays were performed to compare the efficacy of using S9 fractions prepared from rats induced with a combination of phenobarbital (PB) and beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF), with S9 fractions from rats treated with the general enzyme inducer Aroclor 1254. Although some quantitative differences in the magnitudes of the mutagenic/clastogenic effects were observed between the two induction regimes, no qualitative differences were observed. The use of a combined PB/beta NF induction regime using oral dosing is therefore considered to be a suitable substitute for Aroclor 1254.

3,5-Dichloroaniline toxicity in Fischer 344 rats pretreated with inhibitors and inducers of cytochrome P450.

3,5-Dichloroaniline (3,5-DCA), a derivative needed in the manufacture of dyes, pesticides and industrial compounds has been reported to induce renal damage. This study investigated whether pretreatment with inducers or inhibitors of P450 altered 3,5-DCA toxicity. P450 levels were induced in male Fischer 344 rats (4-12/group) by pretreatment (i.p.) with phenobarbital (PB, 75 mg/kg/day for 3 days), beta-naphthoflavone (BNF, 100 mg/kg/day for 4 days) or pyridine (PYR, 100 mg/kg/day for 4 days). P450 activity was inhibited by pretreatment with piperonyl butoxide (PiBx) 30 min prior to injection of 3,5-DCA. Upon completion of a designated pretreatment regimen, 0.4 or 0.8 mmol/kg 3,5-DCA was injected into F344 rats. Pair-fed controls were injected with 25% ethanol solution or physiological saline (2.5 ml/kg). The renal changes monitored at 24 and 48 h following treatment with 0.8 mmol/kg 3,5-DCA were characterized by increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level and decreased renal cortical slice accumulation of p-aminohippurate (PAH). Plasma alanine transaminase activity (ALT/GPT) was increased 24 h after injection of 0.8 mmol/kg 3,5-DCA while liver wt. was unchanged. PB or PYR pretreatment did not alter the renal or hepatic effects of 3,5-DCA while BNF pretreatment slightly reduced toxicity. In contrast, PiBx pretreatment increased the renal and hepatic changes associated with 3,5-DCA. The results with PiBx suggest that either the parent compound possesses some direct cytotoxicity or that a toxic metabolite was generated through a biotransformation pathway not inhibited by PiBx.