title: Induction of CYP2B1/2 and nicotine metabolism by ethanol in rat liver but not rat brain.
abstract: A higher proportion of alcoholics than non-alcoholics smoke (>80 vs 30%). In animals, chronic administration of alcohol induces tolerance to some effects of nicotine. To investigate if chronic ethanol (EtOH) induces alterations in CYP2B1/2 and nicotine C-oxidation activity, male rats (N = 4-6/group) were treated once daily with saline or EtOH (0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 g/kg, p.o./by gavage) for 7 days. A quantitative immunoblotting assay was developed to detect CYP2B1/2 in the brain, where constitutive expression is low, and in the liver. Using this method, it was determined that EtOH did not alter CYP2B1/2 protein expression significantly in six brain regions (olfactory bulbs, olfactory tubercles, frontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem). However, a dose-dependent induction of CYP2B1/2 protein expression was detected in the liver. Significant induction of 2-, 3-, and 2.7-fold were observed for the 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 g/kg doses, respectively. Increases were also observed in CYP2B1 mRNA, which was induced by 14, 38, and 43% at the same doses. Liver microsomal nicotine C-oxidation also was increased (1.3 to 4.5-fold). CYP2B selective inactivators demonstrated that approximately 70% of nicotine C-oxidation was mediated by CYP2B1/2 in both EtOH-induced and uninduced hepatic microsomes. In summary, chronic, behaviorally relevant doses of EtOH induce CYP2B1/2 protein, mRNA, and nicotine C-oxidation activity in rat liver but not in rat brain, and these increases could contribute to cross-tolerance and co-abuse of ethanol and nicotine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, M5S 1A8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schoedel
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sellers
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tyndale
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019362:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009538:Nicotine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000431:Ethanol; D009538:Nicotine; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D019362:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B1; C025619:steroid 16-beta-hydroxylase