Abstract
Exposure of female August-Copenhagen Irish (ACI) rats for 28 weeks to 3 mg of estradiol (E2) contained in cholesterol pellets elevated blood E2 levels and caused palpable mammary tumors in all animals. Coadministration of phenobarbital (PB) in their drinking water reduced the incidence, number, and size of mammary tumors (MTs) but did not reduce blood E2 levels. Inhibition of MTs by PB was accompanied by significant changes in total hepatic metabolism of E2 measured in vitro. PB treatment caused approximately a 4-fold increase in hepatic metabolism of E2 in control and E2-treated rats. The major NAD(P)H-dependent metabolites of E2 were 2-OH-E2 and estrone (E1). PB, either alone or together with E2, increased microsomal 2-hydroxylation of E2; formation of E1 was either unaffected or decreased slightly. PB also increased microsomal metabolism of E2 to minor metabolites (4-OH-E2, 6α-OH-E2, 6β-OH-E2, 14α-OH-E2, 6-keto E1, and 2-OH-E1) and reduced the formation of the E2-17β-oleoyl ester and the E2 3- and 17-glucuronides. In contrast, when given in combination with E2, PB increased the formation of both glucuronides. Cotreatment of animals with PB and E2 increased activities of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione S-transferase to a greater extent than either compound alone. Collectively, these results show that the multiple actions of PB on hepatic metabolism of E2, including induction of E2 hydroxylation, glucuronidation, and antioxidant defense enzymes along with inhibition of E2 esterification in livers of female ACI rats, accompany a marked reduction of E2-dependent mammary tumors in this model.
Footnotes
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This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant ES05022.
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doi:10.1124/jpet.105.096867.
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ABBREVIATIONS: PB, phenobarbital; ACI, August-Copenhagen Irish; E2, estradiol; E1, estrone; UDPGA, UDP-glucuronic acid; CDNB, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene; PAPS, 3-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate; HPLC, high-performance liquid chromatography; SULT, cytosolic sulfotransferase; NQO1, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase; GST, glutathione S-transferase; GPx, glutathione peroxidase; ANOVA, analysis of variance.
- Received October 13, 2005.
- Accepted January 17, 2006.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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