Ontogeny of hepatic microsomal 3-hydroxylation of quinine in Adélie Penguins.
Ontogeny of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) content and of quinine 3-hydroxylation, a biomarker of human CYP3A activity, was investigated in Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) by comparing liver microsomes from chicks aged 13-28 days (n=10) with those from adults. The total CYP content in chick microsomes was significantly lower than in adults and correlated with the age of the chicks (r=0.894, P<0.001). Kinetic parameters (mean+/-S.D.) for quinine 3-hydroxylation in chick microsomes were lower than the corresponding values in adult penguins (Km, 122+/-27 vs. 160+/-73 microM; Vmax, 119+/-35 vs. 160+/-72 pmol/min/mg protein) but the differences were not significant, and neither Km nor Vmax correlated with age of the chicks. The pattern of inhibition of quinine 3-hydroxylation by specific human CYP inhibitors suggests that the CYP enzyme mediating quinine 3-hydroxylation in penguin chicks is similar to human CYP3A, but is a different isoform from that in adult penguins. The results imply that Adélie Penguin chicks may have a different susceptibility to environmental pollutants from adult penguins.
Numata
Mihoko
M
School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Fawcett
J Paul
JP
Rosengren
Rhonda J
RJ
Wanwimolruk
Sompon
S
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006900:Hydroxylation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011803:Quinine / Q000378:metabolism*; D046429:Spheniscidae / Q000502:physiology*
D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D011803:Quinine