title: Dehydroepiandrosterone-induced peroxisome proliferation in the rat liver.
abstract: We have investigated the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a naturally occurring steroid hormone, on hepatic peroxisomes in the rat. Dietary administration of DHEA at a concentration of 0.45% for 2 weeks resulted in a 200% increase in the liver weight and a more than 5.0-fold increase in the volume density of peroxisomes. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the postnuclear fraction of livers showed a marked increase in the 80,000-molecular weight polypeptide. Northern blot analysis of total RNA showed 2- and 12-fold increases, respectively, in the levels of catalase and peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme (PBE) mRNA. Administration of a single large dose of DHEA led to a 10- to 40-fold increase in PBE mRNA levels by 24 h. These changes are qualitatively similar to those caused by a variety of structurally different peroxisome proliferators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill 60611.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musunuri
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002374:Catalase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D007535:Isomerases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008830:Microbodies / Q000187:drug effects*; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D063994:Peroxisomal Bifunctional Enzyme; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases; D002374:Catalase; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase; D063994:Peroxisomal Bifunctional Enzyme; D007535:Isomerases