Induction by 9-hydroxyellipticine of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in perinatal rat liver and in primary fetal hepatocytes in culture.

In neonatal and, to a lesser extent, in fetal rat liver, 9-hydroxyellipticine was able to promote the induction of cytochrome P-450, supporting especially aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) but not aldrin epoxidase activity. The examination of benzopyrene metabolites by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or by benzopyrene-DNA adducts formation shown that, as in adult animals, the formation of hydroxylated metabolites in position 9,10 was enhanced. In primary fetal liver cells culture, similar effects were observed. Furthermore, the presence of glucocorticoids in the culture medium was not required for the induction of AHH by 9-hydroxyellipticine (9-OHE).