Comparison of the effects of inducers of cytochrome P450 on Mongolian gerbil and rat hepatic microsomal monooxygenase activities

Glutathione depletion in a liver microsomal assay as an in vitro biomarker for reactive metabolite formation

Glutathione (GSH) plays a major role in cytoprotection, acting as a nucleophile trap for reactive species derived from xenobiotics. This has led to the development of an assay for the detection of reactive species generated by liver microsomal metabolism of xenobiotics. This assay has been used extensively to study reactive metabolites which initiate toxicity through a direct (non-immunological) mechanism, but there are few data on its ability to detect reactive metabolites that initiate toxicity through neo-antigen formation, or to detect xenobiotics that cause GSH loss by oxidation mediated by a redox cycling process. Accordingly, the ability of rat and human liver microsomes to metabolize xenobiotics to GSH-depleting metabolites has been investigated further. Of the five neo-antigen-forming xenobiotics tested, four (amodiaquine, phenobarbitone, procainamide, and sulphanilamide) displayed GSH reactivity that was either dependent or independent (amodiaquine) on metabolism. The other neo-antigen-forming xenobiotic (carbamazepine) was inactive in all microsomal samples tested. Four quinones believed to exert toxcity through arylation (1,4-benzoquinone) and/or redox cycling (duroquinone, menadione, mitomycin c) displayed GSH reactivity, as did nitrofurantoin and diquat, two other redox cycling xenobiotics. Induction of the mixed function oxidase system with Aroclor afforded little advantage when using rat liver microsomes, whilst there was considerable inter-individual variation in the ability of human liver microsomes to mediate metabolism-dependent GSH depletion. It is concluded that the liver microsome GSH depletion assay may be of general utility as a screen for a number of xenobiotic-derived reactive species.

Coumarin metabolism, toxicity and carcinogenicity: relevance for human risk assessment

The metabolism, toxicity and results of tests for carcinogenicity have been reviewed with respect to the safety for humans of coumarin present in foodstuffs and from fragrance use in cosmetic products. Coumarin is a natural product which exhibits marked species differences in both metabolism and toxicity. The majority of tests for mutagenic and genotoxic potential suggest that coumarin is not a genotoxic agent. The target organs for toxicity and carcinogenicity in the rat and mouse are primarily the liver and lung. Moreover, the dose-response relationships for coumarin-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity are non-linear, with tumour formation only being observed at high doses which are associated with hepatic and pulmonary toxicity. Other species, including the Syrian hamster, are seemingly resistant to coumarin-induced toxicity. There are marked differences in coumarin metabolism between susceptible rodent species and other species including humans. It appears that the 7-hydroxylation pathway of coumarin metabolism, the major pathway in most human subjects but only a minor pathway in the rat and mouse, is a detoxification pathway. In contrast, the major route of coumarin metabolism in the rat and mouse is by a 3,4-epoxidation pathway resulting in the formation of toxic metabolites. The maximum daily human exposure to coumarin from dietary sources for a 60-kg consumer has been estimated to be 0.02 mg/kg/day. From fragrance use in cosmetic products, coumarin exposure has been estimated to be 0.04 mg/kg/day. The total daily human exposure from dietary sources together with fragrance use in cosmetic products is thus 0.06 mg/kg/day. No adverse effects of coumarin have been reported in susceptible species in response to doses which are more than 100 times the maximum human daily intake. The mechanism of coumarin-induced tumour formation in rodents is associated with metabolism-mediated, toxicity and it is concluded that exposure to coumarin from food and/or cosmetic products poses no health risk to humans.

Dose-response relationships for cytochrome P450 induction by phenobarbital in the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus)

The induction of a hepatic pleiotropic response, including increase in liver/body weight ratio, induction of hepatic CYP2B and CYP3A protein and catalytic activity, and hepatic microsomal epoxide hydration activity, was investigated in male cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) administered graded dietary concentrations (0-1500 ppm) of phenobarbital (PB) for 14 days. A dose-dependent induction of each endpoint was observed, although plateaus in the various dose-response curves were not obtained, and ED50 values (PB concentrations associated with half-maximal responses) for the various endpoints were not able to be calculated. A maximal 1.31-fold increase, compared to the control value, in live/body weight ratio was observed, while microsomal epoxide hydration activity was increased as much as 3.6-fold by PB administration. Pentoxy- and benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylation and testosterone 16 beta-hydroxylation activities (considered to be relatively selective for CYP2B in the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)), were induced maximally less than five-fold. Testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation (considered to be relatively selective for CYP3A in R. norvegicus) was induced maximally less than two-fold. Maximal induction of 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin O-deethylation was 18-fold, compared to the control rate. Western blotting studies indicated that hepatic microsomal proteins immunoreactive with polyclonal antisera to R. norvegicus CYP2B1 or CYP3A1 were induced, in a dose-responsive manner, by PB in the cotton rats. These results indicate that the cotton rat responds to PB treatment with a coordinate pleiotropic response similar to that displayed by R. norvegicus, although the substrate specificity of the induced proteins appears to differ between the two rodent species.

Cytochrome P450 induction in feral Cricetid rodents: a review of field and laboratory investigations

The constitutive and inducible hepatic cytochromes P450 of various feral Cricetid rodents (family Cricetidae, comprising various New World rats and mice, hamsters, gerbils and voles), have been examined in a relatively limited number of field and laboratory investigations. These studies, reviewed herein, have employed substrates and immunochemical reagents that are diagnostic for individual P450 subfamilies of Rattus norvegicus (the common laboratory species derived from the Norway rat, a member of the family Muridae). The results have demonstrated that the feral rodents display hepatic responses to prototypic CYP1A inducers (3-methylcholanthrene, beta-naphthoflavone) similar to those displayed by R. norvegicus and Mus musculus (the common laboratory species derived from the house mouse, another member of the family Muridae). At least one study has demonstrated the induction, by ethanol, of a protein immunochemically similar to CYP2E1 in a Cricetid rodent. In Cricetid rodents, phenobarbital-type inducers cause the induction of a hepatic protein immunologically similar to that primarily induced (CYP2B) in R. norvegicus and M. musculus. The proteins induced in the Cricetid rodents, however, exhibit striking differences in substrate specificity, compared to the proteins induced in R. norvegicus. These results indicate that the previously described differences between the P450 induction responses exhibited by the commonly utilized laboratory species R. norvegicus and M. musculus (family Muridae) and the Syrian hamster and gerbil (family Cricetidae) are observed as a generality for members of the Cricetid family of rodents.

Low-dose diethyldithiocarbamate attenuates the hepatotoxicity of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and selectively inhibits CYP2E1 activity in the rat

The effect of low doses of diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) on hepatic cytochrome P450-dependent enzyme activity and 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (DCP) hepatotoxicity in the rat have been investigated. DEDC at a dose of 5 mg/kg selectively inhibited enzyme markers for CYP2E1 activity, and provided substantial protection against DCP hepatotoxicity. At a higher dose (25 mg/kg), DEDC also inhibited an enzyme marker for CYP1A2 activity and provided complete protection against DCP hepatotoxicity. It is concluded: (a) that DEDC at a dose of 5 mg/kg is a selective CYP2E1 inhibitor in the rat in vivo; and (b) that DCP hepatotoxicity is mediated principally by CYP2E1, with a possible contribution from CYP1A2.

Metabolism of coumarin by rat, gerbil and human liver microsomes

1. o-Hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde was the major metabolite of coumarin (1 mM) in rat, gerbil and human liver microsomes. 2. Treatment of rats with phenobarbitone (PB) or beta-naphthoflavone increased the o-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde formed. 3-Hydroxycoumarin was the other main metabolite produced by rat liver microsomes. 3. Liver microsomal metabolism of coumarin in gerbil was extensive with 3-, 5-, 6-, 7- and 8-hydroxycoumarins, and 3,7- and 6,7-dihydroxycoumarins produced, in addition to o-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde. The profile of the hydroxy metabolites was altered by in vivo treatment of gerbils with cytochrome P-450 inducers, but there was no increase of coumarin metabolism. 4. Coumarin was metabolized by human liver microsomes to o-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, 7-hydroxycoumarin, 3-hydroxycoumarin, and trace amounts of 5-, 6- and 8-hydroxycoumarins. 5. At low substrate concentrations (0-10 microM) hepatic microsomal metabolism of coumarin in gerbil resembled that in man, with 7-hydroxycoumarin being a major metabolite. However, the production of o-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde was greater in gerbil than human liver microsomes. 6. At higher substrate concentrations (1 mM) metabolism of coumarin by liver microsomes from PB-treated gerbils most closely resembled that by human liver microsomes. 7. The gerbil would appear to be a more appropriate animal model than rat for studies to assess the toxicological hazard of coumarin for man.

Species differences in the hepatotoxicity of coumarin: a comparison of rat and Mongolian gerbil

The acute hepatic effects of coumarin (2H-1-benzopyran-2-one) in male Wistar rats and Mongolian gerbils has been compared. A single dose of coumarin (125 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) was hepatotoxic to rats within 24 h as assessed by its effects on a variety of hepatic parameters. Coumarin-induced hepatotoxicity was associated with significant increases in relative liver weight, plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities and hepatic non-protein sulphydryl groups. Cytochrome P-450 content and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and glucose 6-phosphatase activities were significantly lower in coumarin-treated compared with control rats. Centrilobular necrosis was only observed in two out of six rats at this dose, but was present in all four coumarin-treated rats when the dose was increased to 150 mg/kg. In contrast to the effects observed in the rat, no evidence was found for coumarin-induced hepatotoxicity in gerbils following a single i.p. dose of 125 mg/kg. These data indicate that the gerbil is less sensitive to the hepatotoxic effects of coumarin than the rat.

Maintenance of monooxygenase activities and detection of cytochrome P-450-mediated cytotoxicity in Mongolian gerbil hepatocyte cultures

1. Hepatocytes were isolated from untreated and phenobarbitone (PB)-treated Mongolian gerbils by lobe perfusion. Yields were approx. 20 x 10(6) cells/g liver and viability was 95 +/- 1%. 2. PB treatment significantly increased the total cytochrome P-450 content, and the 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, p-nitrophenol hydroxylase and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activities, relative to those of untreated gerbils, measured in homogenates of freshly isolated hepatocytes. 3. After 24 h in culture the cytochrome P-450 content of hepatocyte homogenates from both untreated and PB-treated gerbils was 40-45% that of the corresponding values of freshly isolated hepatocytes. This decrease was accompanied by selective losses of cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme activities. 4. Erythromycin and benzphetamine N-demethylase, and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase, activities were well maintained over 24 h in culture, whilst 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activities were poorly maintained. In general, the stability of the monooxygenase activities measured was improved by BP treatment of gerbils. 5. The toxicity of coumarin, precocene I and precocene II to gerbil hepatocyte cultures was dose-dependent. Precocene II was significantly more toxic to hepatocytes cultured from PB-treated, compared with untreated, gerbils. 6. Gerbil hepatocyte cultures would seem to be appropriate for investigating species differences in metabolism-mediated cytotoxicity.