Restoration of hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation by 3-methylcholanthrene induction of cytochrome P-448 in hepatoma microsomes

Microsomal membranes from the slow-growing Morris hepatoma 9618A catalyze, in the presence of t-butyl hydroperoxide, lower rates of lipid peroxidation than rat liver microsomes. The cytochrome P-450 content of hepatoma microsomes is about 40% that of the liver. SKF 525-A, an inhibitor of mixed-function oxidase, produces in hepatoma microsomes a P-450 type I binding spectrum similar to that of hepatic microsomes. The concentration of the inhibitor required for half-maximal spectral change is about 2 microM in both microsome types. SKF 525-A or ethylmorphine inhibit lipid peroxidation of normal and tumor microsomes to the same extent (about 60%). Treatment of the tumor-bearing rats with 3-methylcholanthrene increases the hepatoma cytochrome P-450 to values comparable to those of control membranes, although the hemoprotein has a peak in the CO-reduced difference absorption spectrum at 448 nm. The cytochrome P-448 induction is accompanied by an almost complete restoration of the hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation.