Glutathione-S-epoxide transferase activity during development and the effect of partial hepatectomy.

The specific activity of glutathione-S-epoxide transferase with styrene oxide and 3-methylcholanthrene-11, 12-oxide was determined in rat liver and lung during development from the fetal to the adult stage and after partial hepatectomy. Enzyme activity in fetal liver or lung at 18 days of gestation was about 20% of that observed in the adult; it rose rapidly to the adult value by 21 days of age. Hepatic enzyme activity was reduced to 50% of control values by 12 hr after partial hepatectomy; enzyme activity returned to control values by 48 hr. No diurnal variation in the activity of glutathione-S-epoxide transferase was observed in rat liver.