Induction of pulmonary and hepatic cytochrome P-450 species by coal fly ash inhalation in rats.

The effect of fly ash inhalation on xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and heme metabolism in lung and liver has been studied in rats. Fly ash inhalation induced pulmonary and hepatic cytochrome P-450 content, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione S-transferase activity. Induction of cytochrome P-450 was accompanied by induction of delta-amino levulinic acid synthetase in lung and inhibition of heme oxygenase in both lung and liver. Fly ash inhalation induced those species of cytochrome P-450 which closely resembled cytochrome P-448 in spectral properties and electrophoretic mobility.