Cytochrome P450 is regulated by noradrenergic and serotonergic systems

The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether the noradrenergic or serotonergic systems may affect the expression of liver cytochrome P450 (CYP). Rats were injected intraperitoneally with N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4, a noradrenergic neurotoxin) or p-chloroamphetamine (PCA, a serotonergic neurotoxin) or p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis). One week after neurotoxin injection the levels of neurotransmitters (noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin) and their metabolites were measured in brain structures, and the activity and protein levels of CYP isoforms were measured in the liver. In the brain, DSP-4 or PCA and PCPA selectively decreased noradrenaline or serotonin levels, respectively. In the liver, the applied neurotoxins evoked decrease in the activity of CYP2B, CYP2C11 and CYP3A (DSP-4, PCA, PCPA) and increase in the activity of CYP1A (PCA, PCPA), while the activity of CYP2A, CYP2C6 and CYP2D was not affected by the applied neurotoxins. Since the affected isoforms (CYP1A/2B/2C11/3A) are regulated by endogenous hormones (growth hormone, corticosterone, thyroid hormones), the latter being under control of the central nervous system, it is postulated that the brain noradrenergic and serotonergic systems are involved in the physiological regulation of liver CYP expression.