Induction of renal and hepatic mixed function oxidases in the hamster and guinea pig

A marked species difference exists in the induction of renal and hepatic mixed function oxidase (MFO) activity between rats and rabbits. However, little is known about MFO induction in these organs from other laboratory animals. Male Golden Syrian hamsters and male Hartley guinea pigs were administered phenobarbital (PB) or beta-napthoflavone (BNF) at 70 and 40 mg/kg, respectively, as daily i.p. injections for 4 days. Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) (Firemaster BP-6) was given as a single i.p. injection (50 mg/kg). Hamster hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and benzphetamine-N-demethylase (BPND) were selectively induced by BNF and PB, respectively. PBB administration induced both hamster hepatic EROD and BPND. In contrast, hepatic microsomal MFO activity from the guinea pig was inducible by PB, PBB and BNF. Renal microsomal MFO activity in both species was inducible by BNF and PBB as arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase and EROD were induced approximately 10-fold. On the other hand, hamster BPND was induced by PB whereas guinea pig MFO activity was unaffected. Total renal cytochrome P-450 content was not affected by any of these inducers in either species. These data demonstrate selective patterns of induction in both hamster and guinea pig liver and kidney suggesting the involvement of multiple forms of cytochrome P-450.