title: The induction of liver peroxisomal proliferation by beta,beta'-methyl-substituted hexadecanedioic acid (MEDICA 16).
abstract: Treatment of rats by beta,beta'-methyl-substituted hexadecanedioic acid (MEDICA 16) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent increase in liver peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase and cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation with a concomitant increase in the volume density of peroxisomes as determined by morphometry. The induced peroxisomal proliferation was sustained as long as treatment was maintained and was accompanied by an increase in liver weight. Incubation of cultured rat hepatocytes in the presence of MEDICA 16 added to the culture medium resulted in a dose-dependent increase in peroxisomal beta-oxidation activities with a concomitant elevation of the volume density of peroxisomes. The induction of peroxisomal proliferation by MEDICA 16 in culture could be prevented in the presence of carnitine palmitoyltransferase inhibitors added to the culture medium, e.g. 2-bromopalmitate, 2-tetradecylglycidic acid or 2-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-pentyl]oxirane-2-carboxylate. The induction of liver peroxisomes by MEDICA 16 conforms to the previously defined requirement for an amphipathic carboxylate in initiating peroxisomal proliferation. The prevention of peroxisomal proliferation by carnitine acyltransferase inhibitors may implicate the involvement of this acyltransferase in the induction of peroxisomal proliferation by xenobiotic or native amphipathic carboxylates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hertz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bar-Tana
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sujatta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pill
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Fahimi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008830:Microbodies / Q000187:drug effects*; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C056166:MEDICA 16; D002332:Carnitine O-Acetyltransferase