Enhancement by piperonyl butoxide of acute toxicity due to Freons, benzo[alpha]pyrene, and griseofulvin in infant mice

The effect of piperonyl butoxide on hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase activities in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Although piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is commonly used both in vivo and in vitro as an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase (MO) activity in a wide variety of species, the effect of PBO on the hepatic MO of fishes has never been characterized. The MO activity in hepatic microsomes from rainbow trout exposed to either 1 or 2 ppm PBO for 24 hr in a static system was induced to a similar level in both treatment groups. Conversely, when PBO was administered in a flow-through system to trout, the hepatic microsomes of treated animals contained MO activities that were induced in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, total cytochrome P-450 was significantly increased in the livers of trout treated in a flow-through system with 1 ppm or more of PBO. The in vitro inhibition kinetics of PBO toward the 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities of hepatic microsomes from trout treated with beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) (100 mg/kg, ip) or PBO (4 ppm by flow-through) and untreated trout were compared with Dixon plots. With respect to ECOD activity, the slopes of Dixon plots from control, BNF- and PBO-treated animals were similar. However, the slopes of Dixon plots of EROD inhibition by PBO in microsomes from BNF- and PBO-treated trout were significantly different from each other. Treatment of trout with PBO in a flow-through system resulted in an increase in ECOD and EROD activity in hepatic microsomes while simultaneously decreasing their activity toward [14C]rotenone oxidation. These data suggest that the cytochrome P-450 isozyme composition in hepatic microsomes from PBO-treated rainbow trout may be qualitatively different from that of BNF-treated trout. Also, the activity of hepatic microsomes from PBO-treated trout toward a specific substrate may be either inhibited or induced.

Metabolic interactions among environmental chemicals and drugs

It is evident that metabolic interactions can occur among drugs, insecticides, food additives, carcinogenic hydrocarbons, and a variety of environmental chemicals. A common denominator governing these effects is the versatile nature of the liver microsomal enzymes that metabolize chemicals with diverse structures and biological activities, and the fact that these enzymes can be stimulated or inhibited by other chemicals administered simultaneously. The discovery of these particular enzymes in the 1950's laid the groundwork for the current research on metabolic interactions. Such research provides information that is helpful in the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of drugs and environmental chemicals, and suggests new directions for further research. Some examples are as follows.

Effect of benzo(a) pyrene and piperonyl butoxide on formation of respiratory system, phospholipids, and carotenoids of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus formed an electron transport system when exponentially growing cells were aerated. Formation of the electron transport system occurred concomitantly with increases in the phospholipids and the carotenoids. The addition of piperonyl butoxide or benzo(a)pyrene at the onset of aeration (i) slowed the formation of the electron transport system, (ii) both inhibited cytochrome oxidase o synthesis and decreased its stability, (iii) simultaneously depressed the increase in total phospholipid (especially cardiolipin), and (iv) depressed the synthesis of the carotenoid rubixanthin. Benzo(a)pyrene was the more inhibitory of the two, both on the rate of synthesis of the electron transport system and on rubixanthin formation. Evidence obtained with the inhibitors suggested that inhibition of the lipid synthesis was related to the formation of the electron transport system.