title: Induction of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in primary cultures of normal rat hepatocytes by liver tumor promoters and structurally related compounds.
abstract: Rat hepatocytes maintained for up to 6 days in primary culture were used to test a variety of xenobiotics and steroids for effects on the activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) in normal cells. In control cultures GGT activity was low and increased slowly with time. When added to cultures for 5 days, a variety of xenobiotics and steroids increased GGT activity to levels 2- to 6-times those of control cultures. Induction of GGT was potentiated for most test compounds by 20-30 nM dexamethasone and diminished by nicotinamide or adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate. Effective non-genotoxic inducers included phenobarbital and some structurally related compounds, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane,alpha- and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexanes, Aroclor 1254, butyl hydroxytoluene, nafenopin, various estrogens, progesterone, pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile and cyproterone acetate. A number of compounds including barbituric acid, butyl hydroxyanisole, acetaminophen, saccharin, caffeine, clofibrate and some bile acids failed to induce GGT. Except for 2-acetylaminofluorene and diethylnitrosamine, genotoxic compounds tested did not increase GGT. The results establish that a structurally diverse group of xenobiotics and steroids, many of which are considered to be liver tumour promoters, may directly enhance GGT gene expression in normal hepatocytes. Thus, a variety of compounds used in experimental studies of liver cancer induction as promoters may elevate GGT by mechanism(s) not necessarily related to carcinogenesis.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003634:DDT / Q000633:toxicity; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D013256:Steroids; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003634:DDT; D003534:Cyproterone; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase