长期低剂量γ线照射和照射加电击对老年前期大鼠性激素、肝功能和脂质过氧化物的影响

本文观察了长期低剂量γ射线照射和照射加电击对老年前期(18～21月龄)大鼠血浆性激素水平、肝微粒体混合功能氧化酶(MFO)活力以及组织脂质过氧化物的影响。长期照射加电击使雄性大鼠血浆睾酮水平明显降低(p<0.05),照射与照射加电击均使雄鼠肝微粒体MFO活力明显下降(p<0.05)。长期低剂量γ射线照射和照射加电击组的睾丸自由基浓度较对照组明显升高(p<0.05),长期照射使雄性大鼠肝匀浆与微粒体,睾丸匀浆与线粒体的脂质过氧化物较对照组明显增高,但照射加电击组的脂质过氧化物较照射组(以及对照组)明显下降。实验结果说明照射与照射加电击对老年前期大鼠的作用有所不同,这些环境因素具有加速老化的作用。     

雄性大鼠某些机体功能的衰老变化

随着衰老过程雄性 Wistar 大鼠许多系统功能逐渐衰退。与青年鼠相比,中老年大鼠胸-腺明显萎缩。随着衰老,细胞免疫功能、血浆睾酮(T)和雌二醇(E_2)水平、肝微粒体细胞色素 P-450浓度和混合功能氧化酶(MFO)活力均明显衰退。     

胸腺对雌性大鼠肝脏抗氧化功能的影响及其与细胞免疫、性激素水平的关系

雌性成年大鼠切除胸腺后,其肝脏脂质过氧化产物丙二醛增多,还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量减少,微粒体和线粒体膜流动性降低。隔日1次皮下注射自猪胸腺提取的胸腺因子D(TFD)2mg/kg共3月,可逆转去胸腺大鼠上述指标的变化。为了探讨胸腺影响肝脏抗氧化功能的中间途径,还测定了脾T淋巴细胞增殖反应及血浆性激素水平。结果表明,去胸腺大鼠脾脏T淋巴细胞增殖反应减弱、血浆雌二醇/睾酮比值下降;给予TFD可逆转其变化。实验结果提示,胸腺对大鼠肝脏抗氧化功能的影响可能与胸腺-内分泌-免疫网络有关。     

阉割和睾丸酮替代对雄性老年大鼠下丘脑和血浆促黄体生成素释放激素水平的影响

应用放射免疫分析(RIA)技术比较了年青(2—3月龄)和老年(24—26月龄)雄性大鼠下丘脑和血浆促黄体生成素释放激素(LHRH)水平及其在睾丸切除(ORDX)和睾丸酮(T)替代下LHRH水平的变化。老年大鼠血浆T水平明显降低,下丘脑LHRH含量亦呈明显下降趋势,但血浆LHRH水平与年青大鼠十分接近。在ORDX和T替代下,两组动物血浆T水平没有明显差别,但老年大鼠下丘脑和血浆LHRH的变化率却不同程度地低于年青大鼠。上述结果提示,老年雄性大鼠下丘脑LHRH神经元系统的负反馈能力明显削弱,这也许是下丘脑-垂体-睾丸轴呈增龄性衰变的重要原因之一。     

缺血预适应对大鼠肢体缺血/再灌注后肺损伤的影响

目的:观察肢体缺血预适应对大鼠肢体缺血/再灌注(I/R)后肺损伤的影响并探讨其机制。方法:将雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为4组(n=8):对照组(C),肢体缺血/再灌注组(LI/R),缺血预适应组(IPC)和L-NAME组。各组大鼠均于肢体缺血4h再灌注4h处死,分别测定其动脉血氧分压(PaO2)和二氧化碳分压(PaCO2),血浆及肺组织丙二醛(MDA)、一氧化氮(NO)、内皮素(ET)含量,计算血浆NO/ET比值;以及肺湿干比(W/D)、肺系数(LI),肺组织髓过氧化物酶(MPO)含量。结果:大鼠LI/R后4h,PaO2明显降低;W/D、LI、血浆及肺组织的MDA、NO、ET和肺组织MPO活性均明显增加,而血浆NO/ET比值明显减小。与LI/R组比较,IPC组各项损伤指标明显减轻,NO水平升高,血浆NO/ET比值明显增大。与对照组和IPC组比较,L-NAME处理组,各项损伤指标数值明显增加,NO水平降低;血浆NO/ET比值明显减小,差异均具有显著性。各组大鼠PaCO2的变化无显著性。结论:缺血预适应对肢体缺血/再灌注后肺损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与内源性NO合成增加有关。     

雌激素对成年和老年雌性大鼠血管平滑肌细胞雌激素受体α表达的影响及其机制

目的探讨雌激素对成年和老年雌性大鼠血管平滑肌细胞(VSMC)雌激素受体α(ERα)表达的影响及其机制。方法采用RT-qPCR、Western blot及重硫酸盐修饰后测序(BSP)的方法,检测体外培养的3-4代成年(2-3月龄)和老年(≥20月龄)雌性SD大鼠VSMC在无或有生理剂量(10-10 mol/L、10-8 mol/L)17β-雌二醇(E2)存在下,ERα的表达及其启动子区CpG岛甲基化水平的变化。结果成年雌性大鼠VSMC无论在有或无雌激素存在时均表达ERα,且表达水平随雌激素浓度增加而上升。而老年雌性大鼠VSMC无论是在mRNA水平还是蛋白质水平几乎检测不到ERα表达,即使补充雌激素达最高生理剂量也无法诱导ERα的重新表达,其ERα基因启动区CpG岛呈现高水平甲基化。结论成年大鼠VSMC表达ERα,且生理剂量雌激素对其表达具有诱导作用。而老年大鼠VSMC ERα基因由于CpG岛已发生高度甲基化而抑制,生理剂量雌激素对ERα表达的诱导作用丧失。     

限制性高脂饮食对大鼠多个器官Cx43表达的影响

目的初步探讨限制性高脂饮食(脂肪含量高,热量摄入与对照一致)对大鼠多个器官Cx43蛋白表达的影响。方法Wistar大鼠52只分为普通饲料喂养组(雌雄各一组)、限制性高脂饲料喂养组(雌雄各一组),分别检测体重、Lee’s指数、血浆总胆固醇、血浆甘油三酯和血糖水平,用免疫组化检测大鼠各器官Cx43的蛋白表达。结果(1)普通饲料喂养组和限制性高脂饲料喂养组的体重、Lee’s指数、血糖、血脂均无显著性差异;(2)在雌性大鼠大脑皮质的神经元细胞、雌雄性海马区域的神经元细胞、雌性肝门管区和中央静脉周围细胞、雌雄性肾皮质近球小管上皮细胞、雌性髓袢粗段肾小管上皮细胞、雄性胰岛细胞、雄性睾丸间质限制性高脂饲料组Cx43蛋白表达明显强于普通饲料组;在雄性大鼠肝门管区和中央静脉周围细胞、雄性髓袢粗段肾小管上皮细胞、雌性胰岛细胞限制性高脂饲料喂养组Cx43表达明显弱于普通饲料组;雄性大鼠大脑皮质的神经元细胞两组无显著性差异。结论限制性高脂饮食可引起大鼠各器官Cx43差异表达。     

谷氨酰胺对大鼠运动性疲劳的改善作用及其机制

目的: 探讨谷氨酰胺(Gln)对大鼠运动性疲劳、骨骼肌氧化应激和肝脏细胞凋亡的改善作用。方法: 将8周龄SPF级雄性SD大鼠20只, 体重180～220 g,适应性喂养1周后随机分为对照组和谷氨酰胺干预组,每组10只。谷氨酰胺干预组采用每天1.0 g/kg/d谷氨酰胺灌胃(约2 ml),对照组以等体积生理盐水灌胃(约2 ml),持续7 d。随后进行力竭实验,禁食不禁水12 h后处死大鼠,检测血清及骨骼肌谷胱甘肽(GSH)和丙二醛(MDA)水平及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力,检测血清乳酸(LD)水平及肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力;荧光实时定量PCR检测肝组织Bcl-2和Bax 基因表达水平。结果: 与对照组相比,谷氨酰胺干预组大鼠力竭时间显著延长(P＜0.05),血清CK、LDH及LD水平显著降低(P＜0.05),血清与骨骼肌中GSH和SOD水平显著提高(P＜0.05),MDA水平明显降低(P＜0.05);肝组织Bax 基因表达水平显著降低(P＜0.05),Bcl-2 基因表达水平明显显著增高(P＜ 0.05)。结论: 谷氨酰胺有缓解大鼠运动性疲劳的作用,其机制可能与降低骨骼肌氧化应激程度和延缓肝脏细胞凋亡率有关。     

检测大鼠血浆游离DNA的定量PCR方法的建立及意义

目的:过度训练是体育界非常重要的问题,目前用多个指标的综合评定来判断是否有过度训练,尚无灵敏、特异的监控指标和简便的评价方法。本文建立检测大鼠血浆游离DNA(cell free DNA,cf DNA)的实时荧光定量PCR方法,并探讨血浆cf DNA水平能否成为反映大鼠过度训练的新监控指标。方法:12只雄性SD大鼠随机分为2组(n=6):安静组和过度训练组。过度训练组进行5周递增负荷的过度训练,每周运动6 d,运动的最后一天运动至力竭。力竭运动后36 h采集静脉血,检测大鼠血浆cf DNA、睾酮(T)和皮质酮(Cort)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、丙二醛(MDA)和肌酸激酶(CK)的水平以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)的活性。结果:1所建立的方法能特异扩增大鼠血浆cf DNA;2与对照组相比,过度训练大鼠的血浆cf DNA水平显著增加(约为安静组的5.43倍);3血浆cf DNA与血浆T、Cort、T/C比值和MDA显著相关(相关系数分别为-0.729,0.854,-0.655和0.720);与T-AOC、GSH-Px、SOD和CK无相关性。结论:1建立检测大鼠血浆cf DNA的定量PCR方法;2过度训练大鼠的血浆cf DNA显著增加,且cf DNA与血浆T、Cort和T/C比值高度相关,提示血浆cf DNA是过度训练的新监控指标;3过度训练大鼠血浆cf DNA的增加可能与过度训练所致的氧化应激增强有关,可能与骨骼肌损伤关系不大。     

运动对老年肥胖大鼠脂联素的影响

目的：探讨运动对老年肥胖大鼠内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达、血浆脂联素浓度及胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法：取雄性SD大鼠,鼠龄21 d,分青春期、壮年期和老年期三个阶段喂养高脂饲料（脂肪率为36.3%~40.0%）,建立老年肥胖模型。鼠龄达到60周后,取自然生长老年大鼠随机分为对照组（C）和老年运动组（AE）,n=6;取老年肥胖大鼠随机分为肥胖对照组（OC）和肥胖运动组（OE）,n=6。动物跑台坡度0°,运动速度及时间为（15 m/min×15 min）,4组/次,组间休息5 min,每次共运动60 min,5次/周,持续运动8周。8周后,检测内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达,测定血糖、血浆脂联素浓度和胰岛素浓度,计算胰岛素抵抗。结果：运动干预后,与对照组比较,肥胖对照组大鼠脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达显著减低,血糖浓度和胰岛素抵抗明显增高;而老年运动组大鼠脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达显著增高。与肥胖对照组大鼠比较,肥胖运动组大鼠脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达显著增高、血浆脂联素水平增高,血糖浓度和胰岛素抵抗明显减低。结论：老年肥胖大鼠内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达均降低,伴随胰岛素抵抗、血糖升高。运动能显著增加其内脏脂肪组织脂联素mRNA和蛋白质表达,升高血浆脂联素水平,改善胰岛素抵抗,降低血糖。     

Modulation of hepatic level of microsomal testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase, P-450a (P450IIA), by thyroid hormone and growth hormone in rat liver

The effects of thyroid hormone and growth hormone on microsomal testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase, P-450a, were studied to understand the interaction of these hormone-mediated regulations in rats. In Western blots using anti-P-450a IgG, 1.7-fold higher content of P-450a was observed in livers of female than male adult rats, while no appreciable sex-related difference was detected in prepubertal rats and rats of 24 months of age. Treatment with n-propyl-2-thiouracil or thyroidectomy of male rats increased by 2-fold the hepatic content of P-450a, but neither regimen had a significant effect on the content in female rats. Levels of P-450a in both sexes of thyroidectomized rats were decreased by the supplementation of triiodothyronine (T3, 50 micrograms per kg, i.p. for 7 days) to levels similar to that observed in normal male rats. Hypophysectomy also caused an increase in microsomal P-450a content in male rats. Continuous infusion of human growth hormone, which mimicked the female secretion, further significantly increased the content in hypophysectomized rats to a level similar to that observed in normal female rats. In contrast, hepatic level of P-450a in hypophysectomized male and female rats was reduced by intermittent injection, which mimicked the male secretion. Clear suppression on the level of hepatic P-450a was also observed by the treatment of hypophysectomized rats with 5 or 50 micrograms/kg of T3 and of hGH-infused hypophysectomized rat with 50 micrograms/kg of T3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Adult male-specific and neonatally programmed rat hepatic P-450 forms RLM2 and 2a are not dependent on pulsatile plasma growth hormone for expression

Rat hepatic cytochrome P-450 form RLM2 is a testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase reported to be male-specific on the basis of purification studies (Jansson, I., Mole, J., and Schenkman, J. B. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7084-7093). The sex dependence, developmental regulation, xenobiotic induction, and hormonal control of P-450 RLM2 expression were studied using P-450 form-specific immunochemical and catalytic assays. Polyclonal antibodies raised to rat hepatic P-450 3 (P-450 gene IIA1) were found to cross-react strongly with P-450 RLM2, but not with 10 other rat P-450 forms, suggesting that P-450 3 and P-450 RLM2 are highly conserved in primary structure. Western blotting of liver microsomes under conditions where P-450s 3 and RLM2 are resolved electrophoretically revealed that P-450 RLM2 is markedly induced at puberty in male rats, with no protein detected (less than or equal to 5% of adult male levels) in adult females or immature animals of either sex. A similar developmental dependence was observed for hepatic microsomal testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity, which was found to be catalyzed primarily by P-450 RLM2. P-450 RLM2 was resistant to induction by several xenobiotics and in the case of phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone, was suppressed by 50-60%. Studies on the steroid hormonal regulation of P-450 RLM2 revealed that its adult male-specific expression is imprinted (programmed) in response to neonatal testosterone exposure. Ovariectomy studies demonstrated that suppression by estrogen does not contribute significantly to the absence of P-450 RLM2 in adult female rats. Although the male-specific developmental induction of P-450 RLM2 in response to neonatal testosterone is strikingly similar to that of P-450 2c (testosterone 2 alpha/16 alpha-hydroxylase; gene IIC11), P-450 RLM2 expression is not dependent on the pulsatile pituitary growth hormone secretion required for P-450 2c synthesis. Rather, hypophysectomy of adult male rats increased P-450 RLM2 and its associated testosterone 15 alpha-hydroxylase activity by 50-100%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Constitutive testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase in rat liver

The cytochrome P-450 that was purified from hepatic microsomes of male rats treated with phenobarbital and designated P450 PB-1 (Funae and Imaoka (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 842, 119-132) had high testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation activity (turnover rate, 13.5 nmol of product/min/nmol of P-450) in a reconstituted system consisting of cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, cytochrome b5, and a 1:1 mixture of lecithin and phosphatidylserine in the presence of sodium cholate. In ordinary conditions in the reconstituted system with cytochrome P-450, reductase, and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine, P450 PB-1 had little 6 beta-hydroxylase activity. The catalytic activities toward testosterone of two major constitutive forms, P450 UT-2 and P450 UT-5, were not affected by cytochrome b5, phospholipid, or sodium cholate. P450 PB-1 in rat liver microsomes was assayed by immunoblotting with specific antibody to P450 PB-1. P450 PB-1 accounted for 24.4 +/- 5.6% (mean +/- SD) of the total spectrally-measured cytochrome P-450 in hepatic microsomes of untreated adult male rats, and was not found in untreated adult female rats. P450 PB-1 was induced twofold with phenobarbital in male rats. P450 PB-1 was purified from untreated male rats and identified as P450 PB-1 from phenobarbital-treated rats by its NH2-terminal sequence, peptide mapping, and immunochemistry. These results showed that P450 PB-1 is a constitutive male-specific form in rat liver. There was a good correlation (r = 0.925) between the P450 PB-1 level and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity in rat liver microsomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene and polychlorinated biphenyls on sex-specific forms of cytochrome P-450 in liver microsomes of rats

The effects of treatment with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) on the amounts of sex-specific forms of cytochrome P-450, namely P-450-male and P-450-female, in male and female rats were studied. Although treatment with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or PCB markedly increased the total amount of hepatic cytochrome P-450, P-450-male and P-450-female were rather decreased or not significantly changed. Thus, the percentages of P-450-male and P-450-female in the total cytochrome P-450 were decreased in liver microsomes from the treated rats. The increases in specific cytochrome P-450, such as P-448-H, P-448-L, and P-450I-c accounted for the increase in the total amount of cytochrome P-450 in the treated rats. The treatment with phenobarbital or PCB increased the activities of testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylase, benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase more markedly in female rats than in male rats. Similarly, the treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene increased benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase more markedly in female rats. Therefore, the sex-differences in testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylase, benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase, and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities became smaller after the drug treatment. These results indicate that sex-specific P-450-male and P-450-female were unaffected, or even depressed by the agents in some cases.     

Effect of growth hormone and ectopic transplantation of pituitary gland on sex-specific forms of cytochrome P-450 and testosterone and drug oxidations in rat liver

The effects of growth hormone and ectopic transplantation of pituitary gland on the amounts of sex-specific cytochrome P-450, P-450-male and P-450-female, and the activities of testosterone and drug hydroxylases in male rat liver microsomes were studied. Hypophysectomy decreased the content of P-450-male, without changing the total cytochrome P-450 level. The continuous infusion of growth hormone into hypophysectomized rats and the transplantation of pituitary gland under the renal capsule caused a further decrease in P-450-male content and an expression of P-450-female. In contrast, the intermittent injection of growth hormone into hypophysectomized rats increased P-450-male content to the level seen in intact male rats. The activities of testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-, but not 6 beta-, 7 alpha-, or 15 alpha-hydroxylase, were changed in association with the level of P-450-male by these treatments. Anti-P-450-male immunoglobulin G inhibited testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylations, but not 6 beta-, 7 alpha- or 15 alpha-hydroxylation. These results indicate that growth hormone regulates the expression of P-450-male responsible for testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylations. The metabolism of 7-propoxycoumarin, benzo(a)pyrene and aminopyrine also changed with the content of P-450-male, although the correlation was less than that observed with testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylation.     

Isozyme specificity of testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylation in rat hepatic microsomes: is cytochrome P-450a the sole catalyst?

In the present study we show that monospecific antibody against cytochrome P-450a completely inhibits testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylation in hepatic microsomes of untreated male or female rats or rats of either sex treated with dexamethasone. These data are in contrast with those of K. Nagata et al. (1987, J. Biol. Chem. 262, 2787-2793) who recently reported that an antibody prepared against cytochrome P-450a completely inhibited testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in microsomes from untreated or 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats but only inhibited 50% of the activity in microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats. They proposed that dexamethasone treatment of rats induced another testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase in rat liver. The discrepancy in the two sets of data was due, at least in part, to the use of a chromatography system by Nagata et al. that is incapable of resolving a number of testosterone metabolites. Dexamethasone treatment of rats leads to a marked increase in the production of several testosterone metabolites, including 15 beta-hydroxytestosterone which is cochromatographic with 7 alpha-hydroxytestosterone in their chromatography system. Our results indicate that cytochrome P-450a accounts for all of the testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats, and that testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylation continues to be a useful marker for monitoring cytochrome P-450a in rat hepatic microsomes.     

Neonatal imprinting and hepatic cytochrome P-450 II. Partial purification of a sex-dependent and neonatally imprinted form(s) of cytochrome P-450

A new form of cytochrome P-450 was partially purified from hepatic microsomes of neonatally imprinted rats (adult male and adult male castrated at four weeks of age). This new form of cytochrome P-450 appears to have an apparent molecular weight of approximately 50,000 daltons as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It appears that this form of cytochrome P-450 is either absent or present in low concentrations in cytochrome P-450 preparations isolated from neonatally nonimprinted rats (adult female and adult male castrated at birth). Reconstitution of testosterone hydroxylase and benzphetamine N-demethylase activities of this partially purified cytochrome P-450 revealed that the presence of testosterone 16α-hydroxylase activity, an imprintable microsomal enzyme, was in parallel with the imprinting status of the animals; a significantly higher activity was detected in the neonatally imprinted than that of the nonimprinted animals. This was in contrast to the nonimprintable benzphetamine N-demethylase, testosterone 7α-and 6β-hydroxylase activities which exhibited no correlation with the imprinting status of the animals. We have prepared antisera from rabbits using the partially purified cytochrome P-450 preparations from adult male rats as antigens. These antisera inhibited microsomal testosterone 16α- and 7α-hydroxylase activities in a concentration-dependent manner, without impairing 6β-hydroxylase activity. These data suggest that the partially purified cytochrome P-450 from adult male rats consists of both imprintable (16α-) and nonimprintable (7α-) testosterone hydroxylase activities. The antisera formed immunoprecipitant lines in the Ouchterlony double diffusion plates with partially purified cytochrome P-450 from both neonatally imprinted and nonimprinted adult rats. The immunoprecipitant lines, as stained by coomassie blue, suggest the homology of the cytochrome P-450 preparations from neonatally imprinted and nonimprinted rats. Immunoabsorption of the antisera against neonatally nonimprinted, partially purified cytochrome P-450 completely removed the immunoprecipitant lines without appreciably impairing the inhibitory effects of antisera on the microsomal testosterone 16α-and 7α-hydroxylase activities. In contrast, immunoabsorption of the antisera against partially purified cytochrome P-450 from adult male rats (imprinted) abolished completely both the immunoprecipitant lines and the inhibition on microsomal testosterone hydroxylation reaction (16α and 7α). The inhibitory actin of antisera on testosterone hydroxyulation was also abolished upon boiling the antisera at 100°C for 5 minutes. The biochemical and immunochemical data in this study suggest that the neonatally imprintable form or forms of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 accounts for a small fraction of the bulk of total cytochrome P-450. However, the existence of this form of cytochrome P-450 is regulated by gonadal hormones during the neonatal period and accounts for the major imprintable sex difference in drug and steroid metabolism in adulthood.     

Regulation of testosterone hydroxylation by rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450

The pathways of testosterone oxidation catalyzed by purified and membrane-bound forms of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 were examined with an HPLC system capable of resolving 14 potential hydroxylated metabolites of testosterone and androstenedione. Seven pathways of testosterone oxidation, namely the 2 alpha-, 2 beta-, 6 beta-, 15 beta-, 16 alpha-, and 18-hydroxylation of testosterone and 17-oxidation to androstenedione, were sexually differentiated in mature rats (male/female = 7-200 fold) but not in immature rats. Developmental changes in two cytochrome P-450 isozymes largely accounted for this sexual differentiation. The selective expression of cytochrome P-450h in mature male rats largely accounted for the male-specific, postpubertal increase in the rate of testosterone 2 alpha-, 16 alpha, and 17-oxidation, whereas the selective repression of cytochrome P-450p in female rats accounted for the female-specific, postpubertal decline in testosterone 2 beta-, 6 beta-, 15 beta-, and 18-hydroxylase activity. A variety of cytochrome P-450p inducers, when administered to mature female rats, markedly increased (up to 130-fold) the rate of testosterone 2 beta-, 6 beta-, 15 beta-, and 18-hydroxylation. These four pathways of testosterone hydroxylation were catalyzed by partially purified cytochrome P-450p, and were selectively stimulated when liver microsomes from troleandomycin- or erythromycin estolate-induced rats were treated with potassium ferricyanide, which dissociates the complex between cytochrome P-450p and these macrolide antibiotics. Just as the testosterone 2 beta-, 6 beta-, 15 beta-, and 18-hydroxylase activity reflected the levels of cytochrome P-450p in rat liver microsomes, so testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity reflected the levels of cytochrome P-450a; 16 beta-hydroxylase activity the levels of cytochrome P-450b; and 2 alpha-hydroxylase activity the levels of cytochrome P-450h. It is concluded that the regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation of testosterone provides a functional basis to study simultaneously the regulation of several distinct isozymes of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450.