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Developmental aspects of hepatic glutathione S-transferase activities in male rats

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Summary

The postnatal development of glutathione S-transferase activities was investigated in post-microsomal supernatants of the livers of male rats. A period of up to the age of 200 days was covered, using styrene 7,8-oxide as the electrophilic substrate for the transferase. Activity in animals on the day of delivery was small but significantly above the level of spontaneous conjugation. During 5 weeks postpartum the specific activity increased regularly to about sixfold when expressed as per mg of cytosolic protein, thereafter the activity slightly decreased. During the 5th postnatal week a sudden decrease in activity was observed, but it returned to the original value within about 5 days. The effect of weaning on this phenomenon was studied by comparing weaned with non-weaned rats in an investigation of glutathione S-transferase maturation in the 4th and 5th week postpartum, using styrene 7,8-oxide and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as the electrophilic substrates. Weaned rats exhibited the decrease in activity only when styrene oxide was the substrate.

It is concluded that glutathione S-transferase levels in rat liver are low at birth, and develop gradually during the first 5 postnatal weeks. Transferase activities towards styrene oxide and chlorodinitrobenzene appear to mature independently and are partly associated with weaning.

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Abbreviations

CDNB:

1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene

GSH:

glutathione (reduced)

STOX:

styrene 7,8-oxide

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology of the University, Subfacuity of Pharmacy, Sylvius Laboratories, Wassenaarseweg 72, P.O. Box 9503, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    A. J. Baars, S. Arnoldussen, D. C. Rauh & D. D. Breimer

Authors
  1. A. J. Baars
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  2. S. Arnoldussen
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  3. D. C. Rauh
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  4. D. D. Breimer
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Additional information

This paper forms part of the Ph.D.-thesis by A.J. BAARS, LEIDEN, 1979

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Baars, A.J., Arnoldussen, S., Rauh, D.C. et al. Developmental aspects of hepatic glutathione S-transferase activities in male rats. European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics 5, 153–159 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03189459

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