Ovariectomy modulates the response of some cytochrome P450 isozymes to lindane in the rat

Abstract

The effect of 0, 1, 5, 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) lindane, administered in corn oil by gavage, on cytochrome P450 (CYP) phenotype was investigated in the liver of ovariectomized (ovx), sham operated (sham-ope) and nonovariectomized (n/ovx) adult Wistar rats. Total hepatic microsomal CYP content and the O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxy- (EROD), 7-methoxy- (MROD), 7-pentoxy- (PROD) and 7-benzyloxy-resorufin (BROD) were assayed. In addition, CYP1A1, 2B1/2B2, 2C11 and 3A2 proteins were determined by western blot using specific anti-rat antibodies. Protein bands were visualised by chemiluminescence and their intensities were compared among groups. A statistically significant, dose-dependent increase of all parameters studied was observed in all three animal groups after lindane administration. Ovx rats, however, responded differently to lindane administration than n/ovx or sham-ope animals. At the highest doses in ovx rats, the relative liver weight was more increased and the total CYP content was less increased than in n/ovx or sham-ope animals. Moreover, the degree of induction of PROD and BROD activities was higher and that of EROD activity was lower in ovx than in either n/ovx or sham-ope animals. Accordingly, CYP2B1/2B2 protein showed the largest increase in ovx rats, whereas CYP1A protein increased more in n/ovx or sham-ope animals. CYP2C11, a cytochrome predominantly expressed in males, was also more strongly induced in ovx than in n/ovx or sham-ope animals. CYP3A2 was slightly expressed in ovx but not in n/ovx non-treated rats, although the effect of induction was clearly greater in the latter. These results, overall, indicate that ovariectomy significantly affects, both qualitatively and quantitatively, CYP expression following induction by lindane and support the anti-estrogenic effect of lindane in rats. The pathophysiological and toxicological relevance of liver CYP induction by lindane and possibly other organochlorine xenobiotics in females with a lack or deficiency of estrogen supply remains to be investigated.