Hepatic Microsomal Aminopyrine N-demethylase Activity Research Articles

Biochemical Changes and Morphological Alterations of the Liver in Guinea‐Pigs after Administration of Simvastatin (HMG CoA Reductase‐Inhibitor)

Simvastatin is a potent competitive inhibitor of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) which is the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis. In guinea-pigs, administration of a high oral dose of simvastatin (125 mg/kg/day at the beginning of the study) during 18 days had a major hepatotoxic effect whereas a lower oral dose (30 mg/kg/day) did not seem to cause any liver damage. A significant reduction in microsomal Cyt P 450 content was only observed on a high dose of simvastatin whereas HMG CoA reductase activity was reduced in the group with the low simvastatin dose. The hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity remained unchanged in all groups. The liver lesion was hepatocellular necrosis accompanied in some animals by a biliary duct proliferation. It was associated with a 10-fold elevation in serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities, as well as a great reduction in daily food intake and body weight (28%). The hepatotoxicity of simvastatin could result from the low basal content of HMG-CoA reductase in guinea-pig liver, the prolonged inhibition of mevalonate synthesis and probably, from the absence of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme de novo synthesis.

Attenuation of low dose phenobarbital induction of hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity in rats by cimetidine

Cimetidine, a substituted imidazole, is an inhibitor of hepatic cytochrome P-450-mediated drug metabolism in rats and humans. We investigated the effect of cimetidine on phenobarbital induction of hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity in the rat. Phenobarbital induction of aminopyrine N-demethylase was log-linear in the range of 1–6 mg/kg/day and the ED 50 was approximately 3 mg/kg/day. Cimetidine 75 mg/kg (four times a day) attenuated the induction of aminopyrine N-demethylase activity by 58% in low dose (3 mg/kg/day) but not in high dose (40 mg/kg/day) phenobarbital treated rats. This result could not be explained by residual inhibition of enzyme activity by cimetidine and suggests that cimetidine affects the induction of hepatic cytochrome P-450 by low dose phenobarbital.

Role of 3,5-dichlorophenyl methyl sulfone, a metabolite of m-dichlorobenzene, in the induction of hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes by m-dichlorobenzene in rats

The increases in the hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and in the content of cytochrome P-450 produced by m-dichlorobenzene ( m-DCB) occurred after increases in the hepatic concentration of 3,5-dichlorophenyl methyl sulfone, a minor metabolite. The extent of increases in aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and in the content of cytochrome P-450 at 48 hr after po administration of 200 mg/kg (1.36 mmol/kg) of m-DCB was almost equal to that 72 hr after the ip administration of 25 μmol/kg of the sulfone (Kimura et al., 1983). m-DCB in liver was not detectable at that time, and the concentration of sulfone was 63 to 70% of that 48 to 72 hr after the ip administration of 50 μmol/kg of sulfone. Administration of m-DCB (200 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction in hexobarbital sleeping time, but this reduction was less than that produced by administration of the sulfone (50 μmol/kg). The protein band patterns by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the microsomes from rats treated with the sulfone and m-DCB were similar to those of phenobarbital-treated rats but were different from those of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. The sulfone showed type I interaction with the cytochrome P-450 ( K s, 0.17 m m). The sulfone was formed from the sulfide but reduction of the sulfone was not observed when it was incubated in a hepatic microsomal preparation. The pattern of induction by the sulfone and m-DCB was similar to that by phenobarbital and differed from that by 3-methylcholanthrene. From these results, 3,5-dichlorophenyl methyl sulfone is considered to be a major contributing factor of the inducing activity of m-DCB and to be a potent phenobarbital-like inducer.

Toxicity of trichlorotoluene isomers: a 28-day feeding study in the rat.

Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were fed alpha,alpha,alpha-, alpha,2,6- or 2,3,6- trichlorotoluene (TCT) in their diet at 0, 0.5, 5.0, 50 or 500 ppm for 28 days. Growth rate and food consumption were not affected by treatment. No deaths occurred. Significant increases in liver weights were observed in male rats fed 5.0 and 500 ppm 2,3,6-TCT. Mild serum biochemical changes occurred in male rats. These included increased SDH activities in the groups fed 5.0 and 50 ppm alpha, alpha, alpha-TCT, and 5.0 ppm 2,3,6-TCT. Alpha, alpha, alpha-TCT at 500 ppm caused elevated LDH activities in male rats. Hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activities were increased in male rats fed 500 ppm alpha,2,6-TCT. Hematological parameters were not affected by treatment. Mild histological changes were seen in the liver, kidney and thyroid of treated rats. Data presented here suggest that alpha, alpha, alpha-, alpha,2,6- and 2,3,6-TCT possess a low order of oral toxicity in the rat.

Effect of phenobarbital on toxicity of pyrrolizidine (Senecio) alkaloids in sheep.

The effect of prolonged phenobarbital (PB) administration on the toxicity of Senecio jacobaea (SJ) was studied in sheep. Hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase (MFO) activity was monitored. Pentobarbital sleeping times were decreased after 17 d of treatment, indicating initial induction of MFO. At 105 d of treatment, hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and cytochrome P-450 levels were increased (P less than .05) as a result of PB administration. No differences (P greater than .05) were observed in activity of microsomal epoxide hydrolase, glutathione S-transferase or liver glutathione as a result of SJ and (or) PB. Epoxide hydrolase activity in control sheep was about fivefold higher than values previously reported for rats. Liver Cu concentration was increased (P less than .05) in sheep receiving PB and SJ when compared with controls, but no differences (P greater than .05) were observed in the hepatic intracellular distribution of Cu as a result of PB and(or) SJ. Histopathological examination of liver revealed greater incidence and severity of lesions in animals receiving SJ, but PB did not appear to potentiate SJ intoxication. The results suggest that MFO induction by PB does not increase the susceptibility of sheep to SJ intoxication. Sheep possess a high activity of hepatic microsomal epoxide hydrolase which could account for their resistance to SJ intoxication.

Inhibition of rat hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity by benzimidazole derivatives. Quantitative structure-activity relationships.

Eight-two benzimidazole derivatives have been prepared and tested for the ability to inhibit cytochrome P-450 mediated enzyme activity (aminopyrine N-demethylase) from phenobarbitone-induced rat hepatic microsomes. Using physicochemical parameters and multiple regression analysis, we derived a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) that describes up to 87% of the data variance in terms of hydrophobic and electronic effects and the molar refractivity of the substituent in the 2-position of the benzimidazole ring.

Altered activity of hepatic mixed-function mono-oxygenase enzymes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

1. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats, hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was depressed, whereas aniline hydroxylase activity and cytochrome P-450 content were increased over control values. 2. In diabetic female rats, hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, aniline hydroxylase activity, biphenyl 4-hydroxylase activity, and cytochrome P-450 content were increased over control values. 3. Insulin treatment of diabetic male and female rats antagonized all physical and biochemical abnormalities of the diabetic state; 4. Methyl analogues of streptozotocin did not produce a diabetic state when injected into female rats, and resulted in no changes in aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, aniline hydroxylase activity, or cytochrome P-450 content. 5. Insulin treatment of non-diabetic female rats resulted in slight decreases in aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities, but no changes in cytochrome P-450 content. These observations suggest that insulin primarily influences drug metabolism of diabetic animals through correction of the insulin-deficient diabetic state.

Hormonal regulation of aminopyrine N-demethylase system in rat liver.

1. Role of the hormones of adrenal and testis in regulating hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was studied in male rats that were subjected to adrenalectomy, castration or both with or without replacement therapy. 2. Corticoid and androgen were found to regulate different fractions of the aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, and level of this enzyme activity was shown to be mainly maintained by corticoid and androgen in intact male rats. Size and rate of decrease of the corticoid- and androgen-dependent fractions were almost the same to each other. 3. Phenobarbiturate-inducible fraction of the aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was quite independent of the adrenal and testicular control. 4. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, NADH-cytochrome c rcductase, and cytochromes P-450 and b5 of microsomal fraction were determined in livers of the operated rats.

Studies of interactions of 3,4-benzpyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, chlordane, and methyltestosterone as stimulators of hepatic microsomal enzyme systems in the rat

3,4-Benzpyrene (BP), 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), and chlordane all stimulate the hepatic microsornal enzymes, benzpyrene hydroxylase, zoxazolamine hydroxylase, NADPH oxidase, and the amount of CO-binding pigment in adult male Long-Evans rats. Chlordane stimulates nitro reductase, NADPH oxidase, and CO-binding pigment to a greater extent than does BP or MC; nitro reductase is unaffected by MC or BP. BP and MC stimulate benzpyrene hydroxylase threefold; stimulation by chlordane is slight. Zoxazolamine hydroxylase is stimulated by all three compounds to about the same extent. The stimulatory effects of BP or MC, and chlordane upon zoxazolamine hydroxylase and CO-binding pigment are additive when chlordane is given with either MC or BP to the same animal, indicating that chlordane may stimulate the activity of these enzymes by mechanisms different from BP or MC. Such additive effects are not seen with benzpyrene hydroxylase or NADPH oxidase activity, indicating that stimulation of these enzymes by the three compounds may be by similar mechanisms. Chlordane and methyltestosterone stimulate hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase activity of adult female Long-Evans rats. Additive stimulatory effects upon aminopyrine N-demethylase are not seen when chlordane and methyltestosterone are given together to the same animal, indicating that these two compounds may stimulate this drug-metabolizing pathway by similar mechanisms.