Hyper- and hypo-induction of cytochrome P450 activities with Aroclor 1254 and 3-methylcholanthrene in Cyp1a2(−/−) mice

The response of hepatic mono-oxygenase activities to Aroclor 1254 or 3-methylcholanthrene was investigated in wild-type and Cyp1a2(−/−) mice. Cytochrome P450 concentrations were similar in naïve Cyp1a2(−/−) and wild-type mice. There was no difference between naïve wild-type and Cyp1a2(−/−) animals in 7-ethoxyresorufin and 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin dealkylase activities, nor was the induction response after 3-methylcholanthrene any different between the two genotypes. However, both activities were induced to a higher extent in Cyp1a2(−/−) mice after Aroclor 1254. In contrast, 7-pentoxyresorufin dealkylation activity was lower in Cyp1a2(−/−) mice and this differential was maintained during induction by both agents. 7-Methoxy- and 7-benzoxyresorufin dealkylation activities were also lower than wild-type in naïve Cyp1a2(−/−) animals and during 3-methylcholanthrene induction, but showed accelerated induction in Cyp1a2(−/−) mice with Aroclor 1254. Bufuralol 1′- and testosterone 6β-hydroxylation activities, and P450 characteristics were evaluated 48 h after inducer administration. Bufuralol 1′-hydroxylation, a sexual dimorphic activity (female > male) showed no genotype differences in naïve animals. Activity changes varied across gender and genotype, with 3-methylcholanthrene and Aroclor 1254 inducing in male Cyp1a2(−/−), and Aroclor 1254 inducing in female wild-type. Testosterone 6β-hydroxylation activity was 16% higher in Cyp1a2(−/−) mice and neither 3-methylcholanthrene nor Aroclor 1254 elicited induction. After Aroclor 1254, a 24% increase in P450 concentration with a hypsochromic shift in the ferrous-CO maximum characteristic of CYP1A enzymes occurred in wild-type, compared to no change in either parameter in Cyp1a2(−/−) mice. Induction changes with 3-methylcholanthrene were greater in wild-type mice, a 60% increase in concentration and ∼2 nm hypsochromic shift versus a 10% increase and ∼1 nm hypsochromic shift in Cyp1a2(−/−) mice. The study demonstrates that deletion of a single P450 can profoundly affect the induction response, as monitored with activities of other P450s, in a manner unrelated to the contribution of the deleted P450 to the activity.