title: 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 is a predominant 11 beta-reductase in the intact perfused rat liver.
abstract: 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 beta-HSD-1), a regulator of intrahepatocellular glucocorticoid activity, is bidirectional in homogenates but catalyses 11 beta-reduction (regenerating glucocorticoid) in intact primary hepatocytes in culture. To examine this discrepancy at the whole-organ level, we examined 11 beta-HSD-1 activity in the intact bivascularly perfused rat liver. On a single pass through male rat liver, 44+/-5% of 11-dehydrocorticosterone (11-DHC) recovered was 11 beta-reduced to corticosterone, whereas 10+/-1% of corticosterone was 11 beta-dehydrogenated to 11-DHC. 11 beta-Reduction was less in female liver (21+/-2%, P<0.01) and was significantly greater with perfusion of all substrate via the portal vein (50+/-3%) than via the hepatic artery (30+/-2%, P<0.05). 11 beta-Reductase activity was not saturated by 11-DHC (10(-)(9)-10(-)(6) M). Perfusion with carbenoxolone (CBX, 10(-)(6)-10(-)(3 )M) did not alter 11 beta-reduction of 11-DHC. In contrast, pretreatment with CBX in vivo (10 mg/day) for 7 days inhibited 11 beta-reductase (19+/-4% conversion, P<0.01). Concentrations of 11-DHC in male rat plasma were 44+/-6 nM. Thus 11 beta-HSD-1 is predominantly an 11 beta-reductase in the intact rat liver and is only inhibited by chronic administration of CBX. The substantial concentrations of plasma 11-DHC as substrate suggest that 11 beta-HSD-1 activity and its potential selective inhibition could modify glucocorticoid action in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology, Molecular Medicine Centre, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrew
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossiter
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Seckl
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000818:Animals; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C003552:11-dehydrocorticosterone; D002229:Carbenoxolone; D003345:Corticosterone