Identification of the proximate peroxisome proliferator(s) derived from di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate and species...

Identification of the proximate peroxisome proliferator(s) derived from di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) has been achieved using primary hepatocyte cultures derived from different species and cyanide-insensitive fatty acyl CoA oxidase (PCO) as a marker enzyme for peroxisome proliferation. In rat and mouse hepatocytes, the parent compound (DEHA) had no effect on peroxisomal beta-oxidation, but primary metabolites of DEHA, mono (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (MEHA) and 2-ethylhexanol (EH), were approximately equipotent in PCO induction (5-fold at 0.5 mM final concentration). The secondary metabolite of DEHA, 2-ethylhexanoic acid (EHA), was in both species the most potent peroxisome proliferator (25- and 9-fold induction in mice and rats, respectively, at 1 mM final concentration). At 2 mM final concentration a tertiary metabolite of DEHA, 2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexan-1-oic acid, was less effective in mouse and rat hepatocytes at inducing PCO (15- and 5-fold, respectively). 2-Ethyl-5-oxohexan-1-oic acid and 2-ethylhexan-1,6-dioic acid had little effect (2-3-fold in both rat and mouse hepatocytes). Thus, EHA was identified as the proximate peroxisome proliferator of DEHA and mouse hepatocytes were approximately twice as sensitive as rat hepatocytes to peroxisome proliferation due to MEHA, EH and EHA. We investigated further species differences in response to peroxisome proliferators by using guinea pig and marmoset primary hepatocyte culture. None of the chemicals studied stimulated peroxisomal beta-oxidation in these species up to a final concentration of 2 mM. Higher concentrations lead to cytotoxicity. This lack of sensitivity of guinea pig and marmoset hepatocytes is in agreement with previous studies with di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites, suggesting the absence of a threat of hepatocarcinogenic damage to these species and confirming that primary hepatocytes cultures are useful models for investigating the phenomenon of peroxisome proliferation.