title: Oxidative biotransformation in primary cultures of chick embryo hepatocytes: induction of cytochrome P-450 and the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene.
abstract: Primary cultures of chick embryo hepatocytes are known to maintain their initial level of cytochrome P-450 for a number of days. To explore the possibilities of chick embryo hepatocyte cultures as a tool in drug metabolism, induction profiles of cytochrome P-450 were determined and the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene as a model substrate was studied. Maximum induction by phenobarbitone and Aroclor 1254 is reached after 21 h and 18 h, respectively, both in the presence and absence of serum. For beta-naphthoflavone induction is maximal after 31 h in the presence and 43 h in the absence of serum. The levels of P-450 after induction are comparable to those found in vivo in rats: increases of 200% for phenobarbitone, 200% for beta-naphthoflavone and 210% for Aroclor 1254. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activities are induced by beta-naphthoflavone and Aroclor 1254, but as expected only slightly by phenobarbitone. In the absence of serum in the culture medium, for the control as well as the induced cells a plateau of activity is maintained for at least 24 h. In the presence of serum a decline in P-450 levels is observed. Especially in the case of Aroclor, an increase in porphyrin content of 320% of control values is seen at the same time. A number of representative metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene were quantitated during a 4-h incubation. Relative amounts are comparable to those observed with rat liver microsomes. As expected, beta-naphthoflavone and Aroclor induce the rate of metabolism (by 500% and 400%, respectively, in the absence of serum), but phenobarbitone has no or very little effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001140:Aroclors / Q000494:pharmacology; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000378:metabolism*; D001571:Benzoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019324:beta-Naphthoflavone
chemical_list: D001140:Aroclors; D001571:Benzoflavones; D011166:Porphyrins; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D019324:beta-Naphthoflavone; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D010634:Phenobarbital