title: Histomorphological changes and cytochrome P450 isoforms expression and activities in precision-cut liver slices from neonatal rats.
abstract: Precision-cut rat liver slices are a widely accepted in vitro tool for the examination of drug metabolism, enzyme induction or hepatotoxic effects of xenobiotics. After prolonged incubation, however, distinct histopathological changes and increasing losses in function are seen with liver slices from adult animals. Since tissue from neonatal animals is expected to be less vulnerable, in the present study liver slices from 1-day-old rats were examined for morphological changes and for the expression of different cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms after incubation for up to 24 h and after a 24 h in vitro exposure to beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), phenobarbital (PB), dexamethasone (DEX) or pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN). In parallel, CYP activities were assessed by different model reactions in slice homogenates and in intact slices. Histopathological changes were less pronounced in liver slices from 1-day-old rats than in those from adult animals. During the 24 h of incubation even a maturation of the tissue occurred, since the proportion of haemopoietic stem cells declined and the glycogen content of the hepatocytes increased. The CYP expression pattern after 2 and 24 h of incubation was similar to that of normal liver specimens from neonatal rats showing a moderate CYP1A1, 2B1 and 3A2 expression. The immunostaining for CYP1A1 and 2B1 was elevated after incubation with BNF. PB enhanced CYP2B1 and 3A2 expression, and DEX and PCN increased CYP3A2 immunostaining. This induction pattern was paralleled by respective effects on the corresponding model reactions. Thus, besides increased viability, slices from neonatal rats are excellently suited for the evaluation of an in vitro induction of CYP enzymes as well.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Nonnenplan 4, D-07743 Jena, Germany. amelie.lupp@mti.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Amelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lupp
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danz
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D011285:Pregnenolone Carbonitrile / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D019324:beta-Naphthoflavone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011285:Pregnenolone Carbonitrile; D019324:beta-Naphthoflavone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D010634:Phenobarbital