Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) inducible monooxygenases in rabbits and mice: species and organ specificities

The effects of the PCBs mixture, Aroclor 1254, as modifiers of monooxygenases were studied in rabbits and mice. From data presented, it is not possible to generalize the biological effects of PCBs observed with rats, namely, that they are potent, nonspecific inducers of monooxygenase activities. This environmental pollutant enhanced microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes in livers of rabbits and C57Bl/6J and DBA/2J mice. In rabbit lung, it inhibited, and in rabbit kidney, it enhanced the metabolism of ethylmorphine. Further, at dosages used, PCBs were poor inducers of aryl (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase activity in livers of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice; they enhanced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in rabbit kidney but caused a significant depression of its activity in rabbit lung. These studies demonstrate that the biologic impact of the widely distributed environmental pollutant, PCBs, may differ in different species and emphasize the need to carry out toxicological studies in more than one species of animals. The differential effects observed on various organs may also be important determinants of organ-targeted chemical toxicity.