Peroxisomal enzyme activities in brain and liver of pups of lactating mothers treated with ciprofibrate.

Peroxisomal activities were examined in liver and brain of lactating neonatal rats of mothers maintained on ciprofibrate, a peroxisomal proliferator. The activities of DHAP-acyltransferase, alkyl-DHAP synthetase and the beta-oxidation of palmitic and lignoceric acids increased in brain by 3.9, 2.2, 4.3 and 3.2 fold and in liver by 3.2, 2.6, 6.2 and 2.5 fold, respectively, of lactating pups from mothers on ciprofibrate diet as compared to controls. Ciprofibrate treatment increased the peroxisomal enzyme activities in both brain and liver of lactating neonatal rats demonstrating that ciprofibrate or its metabolite(s) transmitted through the mother's milk can effectively induce peroxisomal proliferation.