[Effects of methyl tertiary butyl ether on liver tissue gene expression in rats].
OBJECTIVE
Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is a new gasoline additive, with certain carcinogenecity in animal experiments. To study its possible mechanism of carcinogenesis in animals, expression of protooncogene c-myc and functional gene glutathione S-transferase-P (GST-P) in the liver tissues of rats chronically exposed to MTBE was detected.


METHODS
Forty male SD rats with body weights of 180 - 200 grams were randomly divided into four groups and gavaged with MTBE dissolved in soybean oil with doses of 1 000, 600, 200 and 0 mg/kg, respectively, once daily and five days a week for 13 weeks. Liver tissues of the animals were frozen quickly in liquid nitrogen and their total RNA extracted with one-step method. The probes of c-myc and GST-P were labeled with digoxin by random primer method, and dots hybridization with RNA was used.


RESULTS
Levels of expression of c-myc gene in the liver tissues of rats increased significantly, but not for those of GST-P.


CONCLUSIONS
MTBE can induce the higher expression of c-myc gene, which suggests it can promote cell proliferation-one of possible mechanisms of carcinogenesis in animals.
Zhou
W
W
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032.
Ye
S
S
Zhu
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D002273:Carcinogens; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; D005982:Glutathione Transferase