Cytochrome P-450 content and mixed-function oxidase activity in microsomes isolated from mouse skin

A microsomal fraction, prepared from mouse skin, catalyzed the hydroxylation of benzpyrene and aniline and the deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin. Contamination of the preparation by cytochrome oxidase and cytochrome P-420 was determined by spectral analysis. The enzyme activities studied in mouse skin (Swiss-Webster CD-1) did not respond to topical application of 3-MC. Twenty-four hours after topical application of TCDD to mice, microsomes from skin had 50% greater benzpyrene hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase activity, and 4- to 8-fold greater activity of these enzymes was seen after 72 hr. Increases in cytochrome P-450 content of skin microsomes could be demonstrated 24 and 72 hr after topical TCDD treatment of mice. Cholate treatment (solubilization) of skin microsomes, followed by centrifugation, removed the contaminating cytochrome oxidase. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of cytochrome P-450 difference spectra were made from the solubilized preparations.