Postnatal modulation of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in liver of mouse pups following translactational exposure to sandalwood oil

Abstract

Transmammary exposure of suckling mouse pups to the oil from the tree, Santalum album, Linn. and its ability to modulate hepatic neonatal xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes was examined. Sandalwood oil, at the dose levels of 5 ul and 10 ul per animal per day, was fed by oral gavage to lactating Swiss albino mice from day 1 of lactation. Treatment continued for 14 and 21 days, at the end of which, dams and pups were sacrificed. The oil was able to significantly increase (P<0.01) the acid soluble sulfhydryl content in the liver of dams receiving the oil as well as in the liver of their F 1 progeny. Hepatic glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly enhanced (P<0.01) in the F 1 progeny of dams who received 5 ul sandalwood oil/day for 21 days and those who received 10 ul sandalwood oil/day for 14 and 21 days. Cytochrome P-450 content decreased (P<0.05) in liver of the dam on the higher dose of oil for 21 days and her pups. Hepatic cytochrome b 5 content increased (P<0.01) in all the groups. The observed changes in hepatic enzyme levels suggest that sandalwood oil its constituents or its metabolites pass via mother's milk and modify the hepatic detoxifying machinery.