Comparison of trans-stilbene oxide, phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene as inducers of steroid metabolism by the rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 system.

The metabolism of testosterone and androstenedione by liver microsomes was investigated after treatment of rats with trans-stilbene oxide, phenobarbital, or 3-methylcholanthrene. Conditions for linearity of the assay with time and amount of cytochrome P-450, as well as saturating substrate concentrations, were established. The metabolites were separated by thin-layer chromatography and quantitated by scintillation counting. The rates of formation of different testosterone and androstenedione metabolites after induction with trans-stilbene oxide or phenobarbital were similar, indicating that these xenobiotics induce the same isozyme of cytochrome P-450. This conclusion was further supported using inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 (SKF-525A, metyrapone and alpha-naphthoflavone) and with immunoinhibition by antibodies directed towards the phenobarbital-inducible form of cytochrome P-450. After treatment with trans-stilbene oxide or phenobarbital, the specific rates of formation of the 6 beta- and/or 2 beta-hydroxy metabolites and of 17 beta-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,16-dione were increased. In contrast, administration of 3-methylcholanthrene led to decreases in the specific rates of formation of almost all testosterone and androstenedione metabolites investigated. However, all three of these inducers cause increases in the total liver metabolism of testosterone and androstenedione. These increases are 2--30-fold in the case of trans-stilbene oxide, 3--46-fold for phenobarbital and 1--4-fold after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene. The possible physiological significance of these effects is as yet unknown.