Free Radical Metabolism of Alcohols by Rat Liver Microsomes

By using e.s.r. spectroscopy coupled with the spin trapping technique we have detected the formation of free radical intermediates by rat liver microsomes incubated with either ethanol, 2-propanol or 2-butanol in the presence of a NADPH regenerating system and 4-pyridyl-l-oxide-t-butyl nitrone (4-POBN) as spin trap. The e.s.r. spectra have been identified as due to the hydroxyalkyl free radical adducts of 4-POBN.

The free radical formation depends upon the activity of the microsomal monoxygenase system and is blocked by omitting NADP⁺ from the incubation mixture, by anaerobic incubation or by enzyme denaturation. The involvement of hydroxyl radicals (OH) produced through a Fenton-type reaction from endogenously formed hydrogen peroxide is suggested by the opposite effects exerted on the e.s.r. signal intensity by azide and catalase. Consistently, iron chelation by desferrioxamine inhibits the free radical formation, while the supplementation of EDTA-iron increases it by several fold. Inhibitors of cytochrome P₄₅₀-dependent monoxygenase system reduce to various extents the production of free radical intermediates suggesting that reactive oxygen species might be formed at the active site of cytochrome P₄₅₀ where they react with alkyl alcohol molecules.

The data presented support the hypothesis that free radical species are generated during the microsomal metabolism of alcohols and suggest the possibility that ethanol-derived radicals might play a role in the pathogenesis of the liver lesions consequent upon alcoholic abuse.     

Permeability of Rat Liver Microsomes to Sucrose and Carboxypoly-glucose in vitro

A study was made of the permeability of the microsomes to C¹⁴-sucrose and to C¹⁴-carboxypolyglucose, a branch-chained glucose polymer with a molecular weight of approximately 50,000. It was concluded that the microsomal membranes are permeable to sucrose on the basis of the following evidence: the volume of distribution of C¹⁴-sucrose was 84 per cent of the total microsomal pellet water; the sucrose unavailable volume, the per cent dry weights of the microsomal pellets, and the optical density of microsomal suspensions were independent of the concentration of sucrose in the suspending medium. It is suggested that the microsomal water which is unavailable to sucrose may be bound to protein and/or ribonucleic acid of the microsomes. The volume of distribution of C¹⁴-carboxypolyglucose was 44 per cent of the total pellet water, and it is considered that the microsomal membranes may be impermeable to this compound. Pretreatment with ribonuclease resulted in small increases in the volumes of distribution of both C¹⁴-sucrose and C¹⁴-carboxypolyglucose.     

Stereoselective Degradation of Chiral Fungicide Myclobutanil in Rat Liver Microsomes

Myclobutanil, (RS)‐2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1, 2, 4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)hexanenitrile is a broad‐spectrum systemic triazole fungicide which consists of a pair of enantiomers. The stereoselective degradation of myclobutanil was investigated in rat liver microsomes. The concentrations of myclobutanil enantiomers were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a cellulose‐tris‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐phenylcarbamate)‐based chiral stationary phase (CDMPC‐CSP) under reversed phase condition. The t_1/2 of (+)‐myclobutanil is 8.49 min, while the t_1/2 of (–)‐myclobutanil is 96.27 min. Such consequences clearly indicated that the degradation of myclobutanil in rat liver microsomes was stereoselective and the degradation rate of (+)‐myclobutanil was much faster than (–)‐myclobutanil. In addition, significant differences between two enantiomers were also observed in enzyme kinetic parameters. The V_max of (+)‐myclobutanil was about 4‐fold of (–)‐myclobutanil and the CL_int of (+)‐myclobutanil was three times as much as (–)‐myclobutanil after incubation in rat liver microsomes. Corresponding consequences may shed light on the environmental and ecological risk assessment for myclobutanil and may improve human health. Chirality 26:51–55, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Nicardipine and Nifedipine Inhibit Fatty Acid Desaturases in Rat Liver Microsomes

Nicardipine and nifedipine, Ca channel blockers, inhibited rat liver microsomal desaturases, though verapamil, methoxyverapamil, cinnarizine, flunarizine, and diltiazem did not. However, nicardipine and nifedipine apparently did not inhibit the fungal desaturation in Mortierella alpina 1S-4. Nicardipine inhibited rat liver microsomal Δ5 desaturase specifically (50% inhibitory concentration, 170 μm), and nifedipine inhibited Δ6 desaturase specifically (78 μm). The inhibition by nicardipine and nifedipine is uncompetitive, the K_i values for Δ5 and Δ6 desaturases being 62 and 44 μm, respectively.     

Inhibitory Effects of Ebselen on Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Liver Microsomes

The effects of ebselen(2-pheny1-1,2-benzoisoselenazol-3(2H)-one), a synthetic seleno-organic compound with glutathione peroxidase-like activity were investigated on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. Ebselen inhibited malondialdehyde production coupled to the lipid peroxidation stimulated by either ADP-iron-ascorbate or CC1₄. The inhibitory activity of ebselen on each system was strongly increased by a 5-min preincubation with liver microsomes; the IC₅₀ values against ADP-Fe-ascorbate-stimulated and CC1₄-stimulated lipid peroxidation were 1.6/jM and 70 μM respectively. Ebselen also inhibited the endogenous lipid peroxidation with a NADPH-generating system, but it slightly stimulated the endogenous activity of ADP-Fe-ascorbate-stimulated lipid peroxidation (without a NADPH-generating system). Furthermore, ebselen inhibited oxygen uptake coupled to the lipid peroxidation by ADP-Fe-ascorbate and NADPH-ADP-iron; the IC₅₀ values were 2.5μM AND 20.3 μM respectively. Ebselen also prolonged the lag-time of onset of ADP-Fe-ascorbate-stimulated lipid peroxidation significantly, but not that observed with NADPH-ADP-Fe-stimulated lipid peroxidation.     

Oxygen Radical Formation in Well-Washed Rat Liver Microsomes: Spin Trapping Studies

The generation of hydroxyl radicals by rat liver microsomes was monitored by spin trapping with 5, 5-dimethylpyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The results confirm and extend previous data which demonstrated that hydroxyl radicals are produced by microsomes in the presence of NADPH and O₂, and without the exogenous addition of iron. No EPR signals could be detected unless catalase activity which was associated with the microsomes could be substantially diminished. Addition of azide was the most effective means of eliminating catalase activity, but azide also reacted rapidly with hydroxyl radicals, forming azidyl radicals which were in turn trapped by DMPO. Extensive washing and preincubation of microsomes with 3-amino-1, 2,4-triazole in the presence of H₂O₂ were evaluated as alternative methods of decreasing the catalase contamination of microsomes. Although neither method completely eliminated microsomal catalase activity, addition of azide was no longer necessary for hydroxyl radical detection with DMPO. When highly washed microsomal preparations were tested, weak signals of the superoxide radical adduct of DMPO could also be detected. These data indicate that the sensitivity of spin trapping in microsomal systems can be improved substantially when care is taken to eliminate cytosolic contaminants such as catalase.     

Degradation of DMPO Adducts from Hydroxyl and 1-Hydroxyethyl Radicals by Rat Liver Microsomes

Hydroxyl and 1-hydroxyethyl radical adducts of 5, 5-dimethylpyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) were prepared by photolysis, and mechanisms for loss of their EPR signals in rat liver microsomal suspensions were evaluated. Rates of NADPH-dependent EPR signal loss were more rapid in phosphate buffer than in Tris buffer. Addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) partially protected the adducts when Tris was used as a buffer, but was relatively ineffective in the presence of phosphate. The ferrous iron chelator bathophenanthrolene partially protected the spin adducts in the presence and absence of phosphate, but complete protection was observed when SOD was also added. The spin adducts were unstable in the presence of Fe⁺² and K₃Fe(CN)₆, but Fe⁺³ alone had little effect on the EPR signals. The data are consistent with two mechanisms for microsomal degradation of DMPO spin adducts under these conditions. Microsomes form superoxide in the presence of oxygen and NADPH, which attacks these DMPO spin adducts directly. The spin adducts are also degraded in the presence of Fe⁺², and phosphate stimulates this iron-dependent destruction of DMPO spin adducts.     

Degradation of DMPO Adducts from Hydroxyl and 1-Hydroxyethyl Radicals by Rat Liver Microsomes

Hydroxyl and 1-hydroxyethyl radical adducts of 5, 5-dimethylpyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) were prepared by photolysis, and mechanisms for loss of their EPR signals in rat liver microsomal suspensions were evaluated. Rates of NADPH-dependent EPR signal loss were more rapid in phosphate buffer than in Tris buffer. Addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) partially protected the adducts when Tris was used as a buffer, but was relatively ineffective in the presence of phosphate. The ferrous iron chelator bathophenanthrolene partially protected the spin adducts in the presence and absence of phosphate, but complete protection was observed when SOD was also added. The spin adducts were unstable in the presence of Fe⁺² and K₃Fe(CN)₆, but Fe⁺³ alone had little effect on the EPR signals. The data are consistent with two mechanisms for microsomal degradation of DMPO spin adducts under these conditions. Microsomes form superoxide in the presence of oxygen and NADPH, which attacks these DMPO spin adducts directly. The spin adducts are also degraded in the presence of Fe⁺², and phosphate stimulates this iron-dependent destruction of DMPO spin adducts.     

Stereoselective Degradation of alpha‐Cypermethrin and Its Enantiomers in Rat Liver Microsomes

Alpha‐cypermethrin (α‐CP), [(RS)‐a‐cyano‐3‐phenoxy benzyl (1RS)‐cis‐3‐(2, 2‐dichlorovinyl)‐2, 2‐dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate], comprises a diastereoisomer pair of cypermethrin, which are (+)‐(1R‐cis‐αS)–CP (insecticidal) and (?)‐(1S‐cis‐αR)–CP (inactive). In this experiment, the stereoselective degradation of α‐CP was investigated in rat liver microsomes by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a cellulose‐tris‐ (3, 5‐dimethylphenylcarbamate)‐based chiral stationary phase. The results revealed that the degradation of (?)‐(1S‐cis‐αR)‐CP was much faster than (+)‐(1R‐cis‐αS)‐CP both in enantiomer monomers and rac‐α‐CP. As for the enzyme kinetic parameters, there were some variances between rac‐α‐CP and the enantiomer monomers. In rac‐α‐CP, the V_max and CL_int of (+)‐(1R‐cis‐αS)–CP (5105.22 ± 326.26 nM/min/mg protein and 189.64 mL/min/mg protein) were about one‐half of those of (?)‐(1S‐cis‐αR)–CP (9308.57 ± 772.24 nM/min/mg protein and 352.19 mL/min/mg protein), while the K_m of the two α‐CP enantiomers were similar. However, in the enantiomer monomers of α‐CP, the V_max and K_m of (+)‐(1R‐cis‐αS) ‐CP were 2‐fold and 5‐fold of (?)‐(1S‐cis‐αR)‐CP, respectively, which showed a significant difference with rac‐α‐CP. The CL_int of (+)‐(1R‐cis‐αS)–CP (140.97 mL/min/mg protein) was still about one‐half of (?)‐(1S‐cis‐αR)–CP (325.72 mL/min/mg protein) in enantiomer monomers. The interaction of enantiomers of α‐CP in rat liver microsomes was researched and the results showed that there were different interactions between the IC₅₀ of (?)‐ to (+)‐(1R‐cis‐αS)‐CP and (+)‐ to (?)‐(1S‐cis‐αR)‐CP(IC_50(?)/(+) / IC_50(+)/(?) = 0.61). Chirality 28:58–64, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

RIBOSOME-MEMBRANE INTERACTION : Nondestructive Disassembly of Rat Liver Rough Microsomes into Ribosomal and Membranous Components

In a medium of high ionic strength, rat liver rough microsomes can be nondestructively disassembled into ribosomes and stripped membranes if nascent polypeptides are discharged from the bound ribosomes by reaction with puromycin. At 750 mM KCl, 5 mM MgCl₂, 50 mM Tris·HCl, pH 7 5, up to 85% of all bound ribosomes are released from the membranes after incubation at room temperature with 1 mM puromycin. The ribosomes are released as subunits which are active in peptide synthesis if programmed with polyuridylic acid. The ribosome-denuded, or stripped, rough microsomes (RM) can be recovered as intact, essentially unaltered membranous vesicles Judging from the incorporation of [³H]puromycin into hot acid-insoluble material and from the release of [³H]leucine-labeled nascent polypeptide chains from bound ribosomes, puromycin coupling occurs almost as well at low (25–100 mM) as at high (500–1000 mM) KCl concentrations. Since puromycin-dependent ribosome release only occurs at high ionic strength, it appears that ribosomes are bound to membranes via two types of interactions: a direct one between the membrane and the large ribosomal subunit (labile at high KCl concentration) and an indirect one in which the nascent chain anchors the ribosome to the membrane (puromycin labile). The nascent chains of ribosomes specifically released by puromycin remain tightly associated with the stripped membranes. Some membrane-bound ribosomes (up to 40%) can be nondestructively released in high ionic strength media without puromycin; these appear to consist of a mixture of inactive ribosomes and ribosomes containing relatively short nascent chains. A fraction (~15%) of the bound ribosomes can only be released from membranes by exposure of RM to ionic conditions which cause extensive unfolding of ribosomal subunits, the nature and significance of these ribosomes is not clear.     

The Role of Secondary Messengers in the Regulation of Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Liver Microsomes

The effect of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PK-C) on lipid peroxidation (LPO) in rat liver homogenates and microsomes was studied. PMA (10^?10 to 10^?6M) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of LPO, which was greatly decreased by polymyxin B (Px B) (an inhibitor of PK-C). The non-active analogue of PMA, 4α-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD) exerted no inhibitory effect. The adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin (FK) (10^?6 M) abolished the inhibitory effect of PMA on LPO. PMA and FK did not inhibit LPO in liposomes. It is suggested that LPO in biomembranes could be regulated by PK-C, whose inhibitory effect might be prevented by CAMP-dependent protein kinases.     

Adenosine Kinase from Rat Liver: New Biochemical Properties

Adenosine kinase is a well-known enzyme which catalyzes the phosphorylation of adenosine to AMP: Its metabolic and kinetic properties are well studied. Here, we report new properties of rat liver enzyme, demonstrating a new reaction: ADP can be a phosphate donor instead ATP, according to the reaction: adenosine + ADP → 2AMP) demonstrating the efficiency of AdK to phosphorylate adenosine, also starting from ADP. Cells could exploited this property in situations in which ATP levels are strongly decreased and ADP decreases slowly.     

Inhibition by Orthovanadate of ATP-Dependent Ca2+ Transport in Microsomes Isolated from Rat Liver

A technique employing sucrose-density centrifugation for the enrichment of rat liver microsomes and rat liver plasma membranes in separate subcellular fractions is described. The fractions are enriched in glucose 6-phosphatase and 5′-nucleotidase, respectively, and are free of cytochrome oxidase activity. Vanadate-sensitive Ca²⁺ transport activity (half-maximal inhibition at ～10 μM vanadate, corresponding to ～12 nmol/mg of protein) was detected in only that fraction enriched in microsomal membranes. Inhibition by vanadate of ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport is noncompetitive with respect to added Ca²⁺ but competitive with respect to added ATP. Because it inhibits ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in rat liver microsomes but not in rat liver plasma membranes, vanadate becomes a useful tool to distinguish in vitro between these two transport systems.     

Morphological and Biochemical Changes During Programmed Cell Death of Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells

Cultured cerebellar granule cells deprived of depolarizing concentrations of KCl and serum die by programmed cell death. Recently, it was shown that serum removal by itself can lead to oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation in these cells. We have modified the protocol which initiates cell death in such a way that only the effect of KCl withdrawal-induced cell death was observed. We have performed a series of experiments to correlate the structural and biochemical changes in this process of cell death. Significant morphological alterations occur in cell bodies and neurites during a 48-hour period of KCl removal. Cell viability dropped to 53%, 34% or 10% of control levels, respectively, as a result of 1-, 2-, or 3-day KCl removal. A series of experiments was conducted to determine the change of total protein level, protein synthesis rate, RNA synthesis rate, and mitochondrial activity during the first 48 hours of KCl removal. These studies not only provide a picture correlating the morphological and biochemical changes in the process of programmed cell death, but also serve as a reference for future studies of this complex phenomenon.     

The Ca2+-Transporting Activity of Rat Liver Microsomes in Response to Protein Undernutrition: Implications for Liver Tumor Promotion

The effect of protein undernutrition on the activity of the smoothendoplasmic reticulum (microsomal) Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) wasinvestigated. After 12 weeks of ad libitum ingestion of low proteindiet (5% protein), a significant depression (p<0.05) of liver ERCa²⁺-ATPase activity (68.6% depression) was observed. However,no significant effects on cytochrome P₄₅₀ activity and relative liverweight were found. It is proposed that low protein diet by inhibitingthe rat liver SERCA activity, might increase the cytosolic free calciumion concentration ([Ca²⁺]) and promote the development of livertumor. The possible mechanisms of low protein diet induced inhibition ofSERCA activity are highlighted.     

Hydrolysis of Endogenous Phospholipids by Rat Brain Microsomes

Phosphatidylcholine of rat brain microsomes was labeled in vivo by intracerebral injection of either [3H]oleic acid or [methyl-3H]choline chloride. These labeled microsomes served both as the enzyme source as well as a source of endogenously labeled substrate. Phospholipase D (PLD) activity was detected with these particles only in the presence of exogenous oleate, its activator. Ca2+ and the ionophore A 23187 inhibit PLD activity of oleate-labeled microsomes. In oleate-labeled particles, besides phosphatidic acid the product of PLD action radioactivity was also detected in diglyceride as a result of resident phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, which hydrolyzed the phosphatidic acid. The phosphatidate phosphohydrolase could not be completely inhibited by KF and propranolol. The release of endogenous fatty acids from labeled phospholipid by a mellitin-stimulated phospholipase A2 also present in these particulates produced minimal stimulation of endogenous PLD. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are hydrolyzed by 50% in the presence of mellitin and 90% of the radioactivity was found in the lyso-compounds. Mellitin and oleate together reduced the radioactivity found in lyso-PC and increased that in lyso-PE.     

Anthracycline-Induced Oxygen Consumption and Oxidative Damage in Rat Liver Microsomes are not Necessarily Coupled: A study with 8 structurally related anthracyclines

The stimulative effect of 8 anthracyclines (the parent compounds daunorubicin and doxorubicin and 6 structurally closely related anthracyclines) on the production of thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive material was investigated in liver microsomes. Except for daunorubicinone and doxorubicinone, all derivatives stimulated NADPH-dependent production of TBA-reactive material. Doxorubicinone had no effect, daunorubicinone inhibited TBA-reactivity at concentrations up to 50 μM. However, the latter two compounds stimulated oxygen consumption in the presence of EDTA to a degree comparable to that induced by the parent compounds. Since the oxygen uptake under these circumstances represents redox cycling of the drugs, apparently redox cycling and production of TBA-reactive material were not coupled for these compounds.

Spectral measurements showed no decisive role for interaction with free iron (Fe³⁺) ions in the non-coupling of redox cycling and production of TBA reactive material. Evidence for a role of bound iron ions was not obtained.

It is discussed that for the aglycones oxygen consumption and production of TBA reactive material might be non-coupled through their different interaction with microsomal RNA.     

Centrifugation of Liver Microsomes on Metrizamide Density Gradients

Metrizamide, 2-(3-acetamido-5-N-methyl-acetamido-2, 4, 6–triiodobenzamido)-2-deoxy-D-glucose (mol. wt 789), inhibits liver microsomal enzymes only to a small degree and it has no solubilization or detergent effects on the membrane. Four hour centrifugation in a continuous metrizamide gradient is sufficient for microsomal vesicles to attain equilibrium. This medium penetrates freely the intramicrosomal water space and, as a result of a possible increase in hydration water, rough microsomes are recovered mainly in 1.14–1.19 g/cm³, and smooth microsomes in the 1.08–1.13 g/cm³ density regions. It appears that metrizamide gradients are very advantageous for density gradient centrifugation of microsomal fraction.     

Enantioselective Degradation of (2RS, 3RS)‐Paclobutrazol in Rat Liver Microsomes

Paclobutrazol, with two stereogenic centers, but gives only (2R, 3R) and (2S, 3S)‐enantiomers because of steric‐hindrance effects, is an important plant growth regulator in agriculture and horticulture. Enantioselective degradation of paclobutrazol was investigated in rat liver microsomes in vitro. The degradation kinetics and the enantiomer fraction were determined using a Lux Cellulose‐1 chiral column on a reverse‐phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry system. The t_1/2 of (2R, 3R)‐paclobutrazol is 18.60 min, while the t_1/2 of (2S, 3S)‐paclobutrazol is 10.93 min. Such consequences clearly indicated that the degradation of paclobutrazol in rat liver microsomes was stereoselective and the degradation rate of (2S, 3S)‐paclobutrazol was much faster than (2R, 3R)‐paclobutrazol. In addition, significant differences between the two enantiomers were also observed in enzyme kinetic parameters. The V_max of (2S, 3S)‐paclobutrazol was more than 2‐fold of (2R, 3R)‐paclobutrazol and the Cl_int of (2S, 3S)‐paclobutrazol was higher than that of (2R, 3R)‐paclobutrazol after incubation in rat liver microsomes. These results may have potential implications for better environmental and ecological risk assessment for paclobutrazol. Chirality 27:344–348, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Biochemical Parameters for Longitudinal Monitoring of Liver Function in Rat Models of Partial Hepatectomy Following Liver Injury

Background

While evaluation of liver function in preclinical animal studies is commonly performed at selected time-points by invasive determination of the liver/body weight ratio and histological analyses, the validation of longitudinal measurement tools for monitoring liver function are of major interest.

Aims

To longitudinally evaluate serum cholinesterase (CHE) and total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels as non-invasive markers to determine injury- and partial hepatectomy (PHx)-induced alterations of liver function in rats.

Methods

Male and female Lewis rats were subjected to either methionine/choline deficient (MCD) diet or treatment with FOLFOX chemotherapy prior to PHx. Body weight and CHE/TSB levels are determined weekly. Following PHx and at the study end, histological analyses of liver tissue are performed.

Results

Following MCD diet, but not after FOLFOX chemotherapy treatment, results indicate gender-specific alterations in serum CHE levels and gender-independent alterations in TSB levels. Likewise, histological analyses of resected liver parts indicate significant liver injury following MCD-diet, but not following FOLFOX treatment. While TSB levels rapidly recover following MCD diet/FOLFOX treatment combined with a PHx, serum CHE levels are subject to significant model- and gender-specific differences, despite full histopathological recovery of liver tissue.

Conclusions

Longitudinal measurements of serum CHE levels and TSB levels in rats are highly complementary as non-invasive parameters for evaluation of liver injury and/or recovery.