Hepatic polysubstrate monooxygenase activities in different strains of rats fed cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

Weanling male Fischer (F), Long-Evans (LE), and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed a semi-purified basal diet or a 20% cabbage diet for 3 and 4 weeks. Hepatic polysubstrate monooxygenase (PSM) activity was measured. Significant strain differences were found in aniline hydroxylase and p-nitrophenol O-demethylase activities. Aniline hydroxylase and NADPH cytochrome c reductase activities were significantly decreased in all strains after 4 weeks of cabbage dietary treatment. F and LE rats consuming the cabbage diets also had significantly reduced O-demethylase activity after 4 weeks. Except in LE, aminopyrine N-demethylase activity tended to be elevated in the strains consuming the cabbage diets. Cabbage diets increased testes weight in SD and thyroid weights in LE rats. All strains showed decreased thymus weights in the cabbage dietary treatments. This study with rats shows that hepatic PSM activities, as well as some organ changes due to dietary cabbage are strain dependent.