Association between growth stimulation by phenobarbital and expression of cytochromes P450 1A1, 1A2, 2B1/2 and 3A1 in hepatic hyperplastic nodules in male F344 rats.

This study was conducted to examine relationships between phenobarbital (PB) treatment, specific cytochrome P450 gene expression patterns and growth rates of hepatic hyperplastic nodules. Nodules were induced in 8 week old male F344 rats by a Solt-Farber resistance protocol. Six weeks after diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiation, subgroups of rats were either kept on control chow diet or transferred to a chow diet containing 0.05% PB, then killed 2 weeks later. [3H]Thymidine was delivered continuously via osmotic minipump during the final 3 days of the experimental to label dividing cells. PB treatment resulted in a 89% increase in the number of persistent gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GTT) nodules per cm2 section, a 278% increase in the area of persistent GGT nodules per cm2 section, and a 116% increase in the average area per persistent nodule. PB increased the number of [3H]thymidine-labeled persistent GGT nodules but did not significantly change the labeling index (LI) distribution pattern or the average LI. A slight but uniform increase in CYP1A2 expression (relative to surrounding, non-nodular tissue) was observed in 50% (23/46) and 59% (60/102) of persistent nodules in control and PB-treated animals respectively. In contrast, for nodules undergoing remodeling, CYP1A2 expression was elevated in only 9% (2/22) and 0% (0/24) in control and PB groups respectively. In the PB group, CYP2B1/2 was underexpressed in 53% (54/102) of persistent GGT nodules and in 0% (0/24) of the remodeling nodules. Comparing LI among the persistent GGT nodules, those that displayed simultaneous increases in CYP1A2 and decreases in CYP2B1/2 had the highest LI, and were followed in level by those expressing either increases in CYP1A2 or decreases in CYP2B1/2. Nodules that expressed both CYP1A2 and 2B1/2 in a manner similar to the surrounding tissue had the lowest LI. Thus, these data suggest that expression of specific forms of cytochrome P450 may be an important factor in determining other phenotypic characteristics, e.g. rate of cell proliferation and GGT expression, within specific nodules.