Monosodium glutamate-induced obesity changed the expression and activity of glutathione S-transferases in mouse heart and kidney.

Obesity may affect activity and/or expression of enzymes participating in xenobiotics' detoxification and antioxidant defense. This study sought to investigate the activities and expression of cardiac and renal glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms in order to reveal possible differences between obese and control mice. For this purpose, mice with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity were used as an experimental model. Obesity was induced in newborn male mice by repeated s.c. administration of MSG. At 8 months of age, mice were sacrificed and specific activity, protein and mRNA expressions levels of GSTs were analyzed in their heart and kidney. In hearts of obese mice, specific activity of GST was decreased by 51% compared to control. This reduction was accompanied by a decline in GSTP-class protein and Gstp1/2 mRNA expression levels. In contrast, specific activity of GST was elevated by 31% in kidney of obese mice and this increase was accompanied by upregulation of GSTA-class protein and Gsta1/2 mRNA expressions. Increased capacity of renal GSTs together with GSTA upregulation may serve as compensatory mechanism against elevated oxidative stress, which accompanies obesity. On the other hand, decreased cardiac GST activity in obese mice and GSTP downregulation may worsen the defense against oxidative stress and harmful xenobiotics.

Flubendazole metabolism and biotransformation enzymes activities in healthy sheep and sheep with haemonchosis.

The aim of this project was to study the influence of haemonchosis, a common parasitic infection of small ruminants caused by Haemonchus contortus, on the activity of biotransformation enzymes and on in vitro flubendazole (FLU) biotransformation in liver and small intestine of lambs (Ovis aries). Twelve lambs were divided into three groups: non-infected animals, animals orally infected with larvae of H. contortus ISE strain for 7 weeks and for 11 weeks. At the end of the experiment, hepatic and intestinal subcellular fractions were prepared and used for assays of biotransformation enzymes activities and FLU metabolism testing. The activities of hepatic cytochromes P450, flavine monooxygenases and carbonyl-reducing enzymes were decreased in infected animals. UDP-glucuronosyl transferase activity was significantly lower (by 35%) in 11 weeks infected animals than that in control animals. When in vitro metabolism of FLU was compared in control and infected animals, significantly lower velocity of FLU reduction was found in infected animals. Slower FLU reduction may be beneficial for the haemonchosis treatment using FLU, because FLU will remain longer in the organism and could cause longer contact of parasites with FLU.

Phase I biotransformation of albendazole in lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum).

Dicroceliosis, a lancet fluke infection, is a frequent parasitosis of small ruminants and the anthelmintic drug albendazole (ABZ) is effective in control of this parasitosis. The aim of our project was to study the metabolism of ABZ and ABZ sulphoxide (ABZ.SO) in lancet fluke. Both invitro (subcellular fractions of fluke homogenates) and exvivo experiments (adult flukes cultivated in medium) were performed for this purpose. ABZ was metabolised invitro by lancet fluke NADPH-dependent enzymes by two oxidative steps (sulphoxidation and sulphonation). The apparent kinetic parameters of these reactions have been determined. In the exvivo experiments, only ABZ sulphoxidation was observed. The stereospecificity in ABZ sulphoxidation invitro was slight, with preferential formation of (+)-ABZ.SO enantiomer. In contrast (-)-ABZ.SO formation predominated in exvivo experiments. Sulphoreduction of ABZ.SO occurred neither invivo nor exvivo. The detection of ABZ oxidative metabolites indicates the presence of drug metabolising oxidases in lancet fluke.

Pharmacokinetics of flubendazole and its metabolites in lambs and adult sheep (Ovis aries).

Flubendazole (FLU) is indicated for control of helminthoses in pig and avian species (monogastric animals) and its corresponding pharmacokinetics are well known. The information on FLU's pharmacokinetic behavior in animal species with forestomach (ruminants) has been limited although the use of FLU in these species could be beneficial. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of FLU and its main metabolites in sheep. The effects of animal age (sexually immature and mature ones) and gender were also studied. FLU was orally administered in a single experimental dose (30 mg/kg of body weight) in the form of oral suspension. Treated immature animals (aged 3 months) and 5 months later the same mature individuals (aged 8 months) were kept under the same conditions (food, water and management) and treated with FLU. Within 72 h after FLU administration, plasmatic samples were collected and FLU and its Phase I metabolites were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. FLU was detected in very low concentrations only, reduced FLU (FLU-R) was identified as the main metabolite, and hydrolyzed FLU (FLU-H) as the minor one. Formation of FLU-R was stereospecific with (+)-FLU-R domination. The plasmatic concentrations of (+)-FLU-R reached 10-15 times higher values than those of FLU, (-)-FLU-R and FLU-H. A significant gender effect on pharmacokinetics of FLU or (+)-FLU-R metabolite in the mature animals was found and a wide significant difference between lambs and adult sheep in FLU including both metabolites has been proved.

Biotransformation of flubendazole and selected model xenobiotics in Haemonchus contortus.

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most pathogenic parasites of small ruminants (e.g., sheep and goat). The treatment of haemonchosis is complicated because of frequent resistance of H. contortus to common anthelmintics. The development of resistance can be facilitated by the action of drug metabolizing enzymes of parasites that can deactivate anthelmintics and thus protect parasites against the toxic effect of the drug. The aim of this project was to investigate the Phase I biotransformation of benzimidazole anthelmintic flubendazole in H. contortus and to determine the biotransformation of other model xenobiotics. For this purpose, in vitro (subcellular fractions of H. contortus homogenate) as well as ex vivo (live nematodes cultivated in flasks with medium) experiments were used. The results showed that cytosolic NADPH-dependent enzymes of H. contortus metabolize flubendazole via reduction of its carbonyl group. The apparent kinetic parameters of this reaction were determined (V'max=39.8+/-2.1 nM min(-1), K'm=1.5+/-0.3 microM). The reduction of flubendazole in H. contortus is stereospecific, the ratio of (-):(+) enantiomers of reduced flubendazole formed was 90:10. Reduced flubendazole was the only Phase I metabolite found. Effective reduction of other xenobiotics with carbonyl group (metyrapon, daunorubicin, and oracin) was also found. Significant activity of carbonyl-reducing enzymes may be important for H. contortus to survive the attacks of anthelmintics or other xenobiotics with carbonyl group.

Mouflon (Ovis musimon) dicrocoeliosis: effects of parasitosis on the activities of biotransformation enzymes and albendazole metabolism in liver.

Parasitic infections can modify the host's ability to metabolize drugs and other xenobiotics by altering the biotransformation enzymes; these changes may have various pharmacological, toxicological or physiological consequences. In our study, several activities of liver biotransformation enzymes and in vitro metabolism of albendazole (ABZ) were tested and compared in non-infected mouflons (Ovis musimon) and in mouflons infected by lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum). Subcellular fractions of liver homogenates were isolated from 5+5 mouflon rams (1-year-old) parasitologically negative or naturally infected by fluke. From the eight enzyme activities that were assayed, only two activities significantly differ in the case of Dicrocoelium-infected versus non-infected animals. In infected mouflons, a significant increase (53%) of thiobenzamide-S-oxidase (TBSO) activity, corresponding mainly to the activity of flavine monooxygenase (FMO), and significant decrease (60%) of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was observed. In addition, dicrocoeliosis caused the enhancement of ABZ hepatic biotransformation. The velocity of the formation of (+)-ABZ sulfoxide and ABZ sulfone was significantly increased. However, the shifts in ABZ biotransformation were very mild that undesirable alterations in ABZ pharmacokinetic are not expected. From this point of view, the use of ABZ in the therapy of mouflon dicrocoeliosis in young animals can be recommended. The treatment of the same mouflons by other drugs that are mainly conjugated with glutathione, seems to be more problematic; hence, all consequences of documented reduced GST activity should be accounted.

Activities of biotransformation enzymes in pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and their modulation by in vivo administration of mebendazole and flubendazole.

Basal activities of certain pheasant hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes and modulation of their activities by anthelmintics flubendazole (FLBZ) and mebendazole (MBZ) were investigated in subcellular fractions that were prepared from liver and small intestine of control and FLBZ or MBZ treated birds. Several oxidation, reduction and conjugation enzyme activities were assessed. In the liver, treatment of pheasants by FLBZ or MBZ caused very slight or no changes in monooxygenase activities and conjugation enzymes. More significative changes were detected in small intestine. Metyrapone and daunorubicin reductase activities were increased by both substances in the liver. This is the first evidence that certain benzimidazoles modulate reductases of carbonyl group. With respect to the relatively slight extent of the changes caused by FLBZ or MBZ we can assume that repeated administration of therapeutic doses of both FLBZ and MBZ has probably no serious influence on pheasant biotransformation enzyme system.

Modulation of porcine biotransformation enzymes by anthelmintic therapy with fenbendazole and flubendazole.

Fenbendazole (FEN) and flubendazole (FLU) are benzimidazole anthelmintics often used in pig management for the control of nematodoses. The in vivo study presented here was designed to test the influence of FLU and FEN on cytochrome P4501A and other cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase and several carbonyl reducing enzymes. The results indicated that FEN (in a single therapeutic dose as well as in repeated therapeutic doses) caused significant induction of pig CYP1A, while FLU did not show an inductive effect towards this isoform. Some of the other hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes that were assayed were moderately influenced by FEN or FLU. Strong CYP1A induction following FEN therapy in pigs may negatively affect the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of FEN itself or other simultaneously or consecutively administered drugs. From the perspective of biotransformation enzyme modulation, FLU would appear to be a more convenient anthelmintic therapy of pigs than FEN.

Use of chiral liquid chromatography for the evaluation of stereospecificity in the carbonyl reduction of potential benzo[c]fluorene antineoplastics benfluron and dimefluron in various species.

Benfluron (B) [5-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-7H-benzo[c]fluorene-7-one hydrochloride] is a potential antineoplastic agent. In the organism, B undergoes a rapid phase I biotransformation through oxidative and reductive metabolic pathways. The carbonyl reduction of B leads to reduced benfluron, red-B, this is one of the principal pathways for the deactivation of this compound. The structure of B was modified to suppress its rapid deactivation via the carbonyl reduction on C7. Dimefluron, D (3,9-dimethoxy-benfluron) is one of the derivatives of B, in which an alternative metabolic pathway (O-desmethylation) prevails over the carbonyl reduction. The goal of this study was to develop HPLC methods enabling chiral separations of the red-B and -D enantiomers. The separation of red-B enantiomers was successful done on a Chiralcel OD-R column (250 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microm) using a mobile phase acetonitrile-1 M NaClO4 (40:60, v/v). Another mobile phase, methanol-1 M NaClO4 (75:25, v/v), had to be employed for the sufficient resolution of red-D enantiomers. Flow rate was 0.5 ml min(-1) in both cases. Red-B was detected at 340 nm, red-D at 370 nm. The above chiral HPLC methods were used for the study of the biotransformation of B and D in the microsomal fractions of liver homogenates prepared from various species (rat, rabbit, pig, guinea pig, goat and human). The enantiospecificity of the respective carbonyl reductases was evaluated and discussed for both prochiral compounds, B and D.

The effects of flubendazole and mebendazole on cytochromes P4501A in pheasant hepatocytes.

Many benzimidazoles are known inducers of cytochromes P4501A (CYP1A) in laboratory animals and cell lines. As flubendazole and mebendazole are benzimidazole anthelmintics often used in a pheasant, in the present study an effect of these drugs in primary cultures of pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) hepatocytes was investigated. After 48 h incubation of the hepatocytes with the benzimidazoles (0.2-5 microM), CYP1A activities -- ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) and methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD) activities were measured and the CYP1A protein levels were determined by Western blotting. None of the tested benzimidazoles influenced the CYP1A protein content. No pharmacologically significant enhancement of CYP1A after exposure of the hepatocytes to flubendazole and mebendazole was found. Inhibition of the EROD/MROD activities caused by both tested substances was observed only at the highest concentration (5 microM). From a point of view of CYP1A induction or inhibition, the treatment of pheasants by both anthelmintics tested seems to be safe. Our study demonstrates the inter-species differences in CYP1A inducibility and the importance of induction/inhibition studies on target animals.

Albendazole repeated administration induces cytochromes P4501A and accelerates albendazole deactivation in mouflon (Ovis musimon).

Adult mouflon ewes (Ovis musimon) were treated repeatedly with therapeutic doses of albendazole (ABZ, p.o. 7.5 mg/kg of body weight/day, for five consecutive days). Animals (treated or control) were sacrificed 24 h after the fifth dose of ABZ and liver and small intestine were collected to prepare microsomes. The activities of several biotransformation enzymes were measured in both hepatic and intestinal microsomes. A significant increase in the activity and amount of cytochromes P4501A (CYP1A) was observed in both tissues of ABZ treated mouflons compared to control animals. No other biotransformation enzymes tested were affected by five ABZ doses. The in vitro biotransformation of ABZ was studied in hepatic and intestinal microsomes from ABZ treated and control mouflons. Concentrations of two main ABZ metabolites - pharmacologically active ABZ sulfoxide and pharmacologically inactive ABZ sulfone were analysed using HPLC. A significant increase in rate of formation of ABZ sulfone (which is catalysed by CYP1A) was observed in hepatic as well as in intestinal microsomes from ABZ treated animals. The enhancement of ABZ deactivation by its repeated administration may affect the anthelmintic efficacy of this drug and may contribute to the development of parasite resistance.

Chiral inversion of drugs: coincidence or principle?

2-arylpropionic acid derivatives are probably the most frequently cited drugs exhibiting the phenomenon that is best known as chiral inversion. One enantiomer of drug is converted into its antipode either in the presence of a solvent or more often in inner environment of an organism. Mechanistic studies of the metabolic chiral inversion were carried out for several drugs from NSAIDs, and a model of this inversion was suggested and subsequently confirmed. The chiral inversion of NSAIDs has been intensively studied in the context of the pharmacological and toxicological consequences. However, the group of NSAIDs is not the sole group of drugs in which the inversion phenomenon can be observed. There exist several other drugs that also display chiral inversion of one or even both of their enantiomers. These drugs belong to different pharmacotherapeutic groups as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antiepileptic drugs, drugs used in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia or drugs that are effective in the treatment of leprosy. Moreover, some chiral or prochiral drugs are metabolized to give chiral metabolites that undergo chiral inversion too, which can have direct impact on pharmacological properties or toxicity of the drug. As the process of chiral inversion is affected by several factors, so the intensity of chiral inversion of individual substances and at different conditions can differ considerably. Interspecies differences and types of tissue are reported to be the main factors that were recognized to play the key role in the process of chiral inversion. Some of more recent studies have revealed that several other factors, such as the route of administration or interaction with other xenobiotics, can influence the enantiomeric conversion, too. Chiral inversion does not seem to be a phenomenon connected with only several drugs from some unique group of 2-arylpropionic acid derivatives: it is also observed in drugs with rather different chemical structures and is much more frequent than it can be realized.

High-performance liquid chromatography study of stereospecific microsomal enzymes catalysing the reduction of a potential cytostatic drug, oracin. Interspecies comparison.

One of the main metabolites of oracin (I) ¿6-[2-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoethyl]-5,11-dioxo-5,6-dihydro-11H-indeno[1,2- c] isoquinoline¿, a potential cytostatic drug, is 11-dihydrooracin (II) ¿(+),(-)-6-[2-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoethyl]-5-oxo-11-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-1 1H- indeno[1,2-c]isoquinoline¿, a metabolite formed by the reduction of oracin's pro-chiral centre on C 11. This metabolite has been found in all laboratory species in vitro and in vivo and it constitutes the main metabolite in man. The stereospecificity of reducing enzymes participating in the oracin biotransformation pathway was investigated using microsomal preparations from standard laboratory animals. Enzyme stereospecificity has been defined as preferential formation by the enzyme of the (+) or (-) stereoisomer of II. Significant interspecies differences were observed in the stereospecificity of the respective biotransformation enzymes. HPLC quantitative determinations of both enantiomers were performed using a Chiralcel OD-R column as chiral stationary phase with excellent resolution and stability.

Effect of substituents on microsomal reduction of benzo(c)fluorene N-oxides.

The potential benzo(c)fluorene antineoplastic agent benfluron (B) displays high activity against a broad spectrum of experimental tumours in vitro and in vivo. In order to suppress some of its undesirable properties, its structure has been modified. Benfluron N-oxide (B N-oxide) is one of benfluron derivatives tested. The main metabolic pathway of B N-oxide is its reduction to tertiary amine B. A key role of cytochrome P4502B and P4502E1 in B N-oxide reduction has been proposed in the rat. Surprisingly, B N-oxide is reduced also in the presence of oxygen although all other N-oxides undergo reduction only under anaerobic conditions. With the aim to determine the influence of the N-oxide chemical structure and its redox potential on reductase affinity, activity and oxygen sensitivity five relative benzo(c)fluorene N-oxides were prepared. A correlation between the redox potential measured and the non-enzymatic reduction ability of the substrate was found, but no effect of the redox potential on reductase activity was observed. Microsomal reductases display a high affinity to B N-oxide (apparent K(m) congruent with0. 2 mM). A modification of the side-chain or nitrogen substituents has led to only a little change in apparent K(m) values, but a methoxy group substitution on the benzo(c)fluorene moiety induced a significant K(m) increase (ten-fold). Based on kinetic study results, the scheme of mechanism of cytochrome P450 mediated benzo(c)fluorene N-oxides reduction have been proposed. All benzo(c)fluorene N-oxides under study were able to be reduced in the presence of oxygen. Changes in the B N-oxide structure caused an extent of anaerobic conditions preference. The relationship between the benzo(c)fluorene N-oxide structure and the profile of metabolites in microsomal incubation was studied and important differences in the formation of individual N-oxide metabolites were found.

Effect of ivermectin on activities of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in mouflon (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Dama dama).

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug widely used in veterinary and human medicine. We have found earlier that repeated treatments of rats with high doses of this drug led to significant increase of cytochrome P450-dependent 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in hepatic microsomes. In the present study, the effects of ivermectin on cytochrome P450 (CYP) activities were investigated in mouflon (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Dama dama). This study was conducted also to point out general lack of information on both basal levels of CYP enzymes and their inducibilities by veterinary drugs in wild ruminants. Liver microsomes were prepared from control animals, mouflons, after single or repeated (six doses in six consecutive days) treatments with therapeutic doses of ivermectin (0.5 mg kg(-1) of body weight), and fallow deer exposed to repeated doses of ivermectin under the same conditions. Alkyloxyresorufins, testosterone and chlorzoxazone were used as the specific substrate probes of activities of the CYP isoenzymes. A single therapeutic dose of ivermectin significantly induced (300-400% of the control group) the activities of all alkyloxyresorufin dealkylases tested in mouflon liver microsomes. Repeated doses of ivermectin also caused an increase of these activities, but due to fair inter-individual differences, this increase was not significant. The administration of ivermectin led to an induction (170-210% of the control) of the testosterone 6beta- and 16alpha-hydroxylase activities in mouflon liver but no significant modulation of chlorzoxazone hydroxylase (CZXOH) activity was found in mouflon liver. CYP-dependent activities in hepatic microsomes were generally higher in fallow deer than in mouflons. However, with the exception of slight increase in the 7-benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylase (BROD) activities, no significant modulation of the other activities was observed. The induction of CYP3A-like isoenzyme was confirmed by immunoblotting only in the microsomes from mouflons administered with repeated doses of ivermectin; however, no significant increase of CYP1A isoenzymes was observed due to a weak cross-reactivity of anti-rat CYP1A1/2 polyclonal antibodies used in the study. The results indicate that ivermectin should be considered as an inducer of several cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, including CYP1A, 2B and 3A subfamilies, in mouflons. The comparison of induction effect of ivermectin in rat, mouflon and fallow deer also demonstrates the inter-species differences in inducibility of CYP enzymes.

Reduction of the potential anticancer drug oracin in the rat liver in-vitro.

Studies on the metabolism of the potential cytostatic drug oracin have shown that a principal metabolite of oracin is 11-dihydrooracin (DHO). We conducted in-vitro experiments to investigate the extent of oracin carbonyl reduction in microsomal or cytosolic fractions and to find out the enzymes involved under these conditions. Among several inducers of rat cytochrome P450 only 3-methylcholanthrene caused a significant (P < 0.01) stimulation (1.9 times) of DHO production in microsomal fraction and the specific P4501A inhibitor alpha-naphthoflavone significantly (P < 0.01) decreased (twice) the induced reduction activity. Cytochrome P4501A participates in oracin reduction in microsomes. 18beta-Glycyrrhetinic acid, a specific inhibitor of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited the production of DHO in the microsomal fraction (>95% inhibition) in comparison with the non-inhibited reaction. Statistically significant (P < 0.01) inhibition (95%) of DHO formation was caused by metyrapone, which is also the substrate of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The main microsomal enzyme which catalyses the carbonyl reduction of oracin is probably 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Important oracin reduction to DHO in the cytosolic fraction was found. According to its specific sensitivity towards quercitrin (inhibition by 99%, P < 0.01), the enzyme responsible for DHO formation in the rat liver cytosol is postulated to be carbonyl reductase.

Induction and inhibition of cytochrome P450-catalysed reduction of biologically active benfluron N-oxide.

Benfluron N-oxide [5-(2-N-oxo-2-N,N'-dimethylaminoethoxy)-7-oxo-7-H-benzo[c]fluorene] is a biologically active substance which displays a cytostatic effect on several experimental tumour cells. The main metabolic pathway of benfluron N-oxide in vitro and in vitro--its reduction to the parent tertiary amine benfluron--and the role of cytochrome P450 in this reduction were studied. The value of the benfluron N-oxide/benfluron redox potential as a criterion of suitability of the substrate for cytochrome P450 reductase activity was determined. Results of induction and inhibition studies on rats suggest that cytochromes P4502B and P4502E1 participate in microsomal reduction of benfluron N-oxide. Unlike most cytochrome P450 catalysed reactions, the reduction of benfluron N-oxide also occurs under aerobic conditions. Microsomes induced by phenobarbital, ethanol or beta-naphthoflavone showed no significantly greater inhibitory effect of oxygen on benfluron N-oxide reduction.

Inter-species comparison of microsomal reductive transformation of biologically active benfluron N-oxide.

Benfluron N-oxide is an anti-neoplastic active metabolite of benfluron (B) /1/. It is generated by flavine-monooxygenase-catalysed reactions /2/ and immediately undergoes subsequent metabolic transformations, the most important of which are reductive reactions /3/. The products of reductive pathways catalysed by two different microsomal enzymatic systems are the tertiary amine benfluron (i.e. the original parent compound) and/or 7-dihydrobenfluron N-oxide. Our studies on the reductive transformation of B N-oxide in rat, mouse, guinea-pig, rabbit, mini-pig and human microsomes have revealed significant species differences both in the yields of respective reduced metabolites and in the conditions essential for the activity of the reductases involved. While B, the original tertiary amine, is the main product of aerobic incubation of B N-oxide with NADPH in rat, mouse and mini-pig, significantly higher activities of the enzymes catalysing the formation of 7-dihydro-B N-oxide have been detected in rabbit and human microsomes. In rat, mouse and mini-pig, NADPH rather than NADH is the preferred coenzyme for B formation, and NADPH is also the preferred coenzyme for the formation of 7-dihydro-B N-oxide in most of the species used. The yield of tertiary amine B is higher in anaerobic rather than aerobic conditions in most experimental species studied. Aerobic or anaerobic incubating conditions have an insignificant effect on the formation of 7-dihydro-B N-oxide. Based on the inhibitory effect of CO on the reductive transformation of B N-oxide, cytochromes P450 can be assumed to participate in the formation of B both in rat and mini-pig, and, in mini-pig only, also in the formation of 7-dihydro-B N-oxide. Inter-species comparison of the properties of the reductases participating in the transformation of B N-oxide shows that the rabbit is a suitable model to study reductive transformation of B N-oxide in man.

Comparison of in vitro activities of biotransformation enzymes in pig, cattle, goat and sheep.

In vitro activities of cytochromes P450 (7-alkyl/aryloxyresorufin dealkyl(aryl)ases, testosterone hydroxylase/oxidase, 6-chlorzoxazone hydroxylase, 7-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin demethylase, and lauric acid hydroxylases), reductases of carbonyl group (toward metyrapone, daunorubicin, glyceraldehyde, and 4-pyridine-carboxaldehyde) and conjugation enzymes (p-nitrophenol-UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene glutathione-S-tranferase) in young adults, males, non-castrated (N=6) farm animals were studied and compared. Presence of proteins cross-reacting with anti-human CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2E1 IgG was detected in all farm species. Bovine microsomes differed from other microsomes of farm species in very high 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (CYP1A1/2). Significantly higher 7-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin demethylase (2-3 times) and 12-lauric acid hydroxylases (4-10 times) activities (probably corresponding to CYP2C and CYP4A, respectively) were found in ovine microsomes. The highest 6beta-testosterone hydroxylase activity, which is usually considered to be a CYP3A activity marker, was found in pig. Reductases of all farm animals display considerable ability to reduce carbonyl group of xenobiotics. Significant differences in level and activity of many biotransformation enzymes tested suggest that extrapolation of pharmacokinetic data obtained in one species to another (even related) could be misleading.

Role of cytochrome P4501A in biotransformation of the potential anticancer drug oracin.

Metabolic fate of the potential anticancer drug oracin (I), was studied at microsomal level in rat using enzyme induction and inhibition. One of the main metabolites arising during incubation of hepatic microsomal fraction with oracin is 3-hydroxyoracin (III). Cytochromes P450 non-specific inhibitors (carbon monoxide, aminobenzotriazole, 1-benzylimidazole, proadifen hydrochloride, n-octylamine) diminished amount of III. Among several specific inducers of rat cytochromes P450 isoforms used, only 3-methylcholanthrene, inducer of cytochrome P4501A, caused a significant stimulation of 3-hydroxyoracin production. The amount of III was decreased to the level of controls when the microsomes prepared from 3-methylcholanthrene treated rats were incubated with substrate in the presence of specific P4501A inhibitor alpha-naphthoflavone. From the above mentioned results we can assume that metabolite III is formed from oracin by cytochrome P450 belonging to subfamily 1A.