Modulation of snake hepatic cytochrome P450 by 3-methylcholanthrene and phenobarbital.
Induction mode of the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes was studied in Corn snake (Elaphe guttata emoryi). Treatment of snakes with 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbital produced no effects on liver weight and total content of cytochromes P450 and b5. Treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene significantly induced the activities of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and 7-pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase, whereas those of ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, benzphetamine N-demethylase, erythromycin N-demethylase and testosterone hydroxylases were not affected. 3-Methylcholanthrene-induced activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and 7-pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase were inhibited by 20 microM alpha-naphthoflavone by 98% and 73%, respectively. Phenobarbital-treatment caused a significant induction of the activities of erythromycin N-demethylase and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase, but did not affect those of the other phase I enzymes and the other testosterone hydroxylases. The activities of UDP-glucuronyltransferase and glutathione S-transferase were not affected by either 3-methylcholanthrene or phenobarbital administration. Immunoblotting showed that 3-methylcholanthrene-treatment induced a protein band related to hamster CYP1A2, and decreased the intensity of the two bands detected with anti-rat CYP2B1. Phenobarbital-treatment did not affect the intensity of CYP2B-related proteins. The results suggest that snake liver has multiple forms of cytochrome P450, notably those inducible by 3-methylcholanthrene.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Institute of Public Health, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Bani
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Fukuhara
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Kimura
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Ushio
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019388:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019362:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012911:Snakes / Q000378:metabolism*
D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D019388:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2; D019362:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B1; D010634:Phenobarbital