title: Changes of multiple biotransformation phase I and phase II enzyme activities in human fetal adrenals during fetal development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fetal adrenal, which synthesizes steroid hormones, is critical to fetal growth and development. Our recent research showed that some xenobiotics could interfere with steroidogenesis and induce intrauterine growth retardation in rats. The study on the characteristics of biotransformation enzymes in fetal adrenals still seems to be important with respect to possible significance in xenobiotic-induced fetal development toxicity. In this study, the activities of several important xenobiotic-related phase I and phase II enzymes in human fetal adrenals were examined and compared with those in fetal livers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The activity and mRNA expression were determined by enzymatic analysis and RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of cytochrome (CYP)2A6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A7 isozymes in fetal adrenals were 82%, 92%, and 33% of those in fetal livers, respectively. There was a good positive correlation between adrenal CYP2A6 activity and gestational time. The values of alpha glutathione S-transferase (GST), pi-GST, and microGST in adrenals were 0.5, 4.4, and 8.3-fold of those in the livers, respectively, and the activity of adrenal pi-GST was negatively correlated with gestational time. The uridine diphosphoglucuronyl transferase activities, which were measured using p-hydroxy-biphenyl and 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin as substrates, were 9% and 3%, respectively, of those in the fetal livers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our investigation suggested that adrenal could be an important xenobiotic-metabolizing organ in fetal development and may play a potential role in xenobiotic-induced fetal development toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medical School of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China. clbwhcbd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.forename: Ren-xiu
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Xue-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Qi-xiong
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Jun-yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D000328:Adult; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000201:enzymology; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015262:Xenobiotics; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D005982:Glutathione Transferase