Cerebral flavin-containing monooxygenase-mediated metabolism of antidepressants in brain: immunochemical properties and immunocytochemical localization.

Flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO)-mediated oxidation of the model substrates N,N-dimethylaniline and methimazole, and the antidepressants imipramine and fluoxetine, was determined in rat brain microsomes. No sex-related difference was observed in the activity of the FMO-mediated metabolism of the four substrates examined. The Km values for flavin-containing monooxygenase-mediated metabolism of N,N-dimethylaniline and methimazole were 2.8 and 0.8 mM, respectively, and the Km values for the oxidation of the antidepressants imipramine and fluoxetine were 20.9 and 9.8 microM, respectively. The Vmax values for oxidation of N,N-dimethylaniline, methimazole, imipramine and fluoxetine were 340, 31, 182 and 470 nmol nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidized/min/mg protein, respectively. Western immunoblot analysis using antisera to purified porcine liver FMO did not reveal any immunological cross-reactivity with male or female brain microsomal protein. Antibody to rabbit lung flavin-containing monooxygenase cross-reacted with brain microsomes as examined by Western immunoblot studies. Addition of the antibody raised against rabbit lung FMO resulted in inhibition (43% inhibition) of the FMO-mediated metabolism of imipramine. Immunocytochemical examination of rat brain sections using the above antibody revealed the preferential localization of flavin-containing monooxygenase in the neuronal cell body. The flavin-containing monooxygenase-mediated metabolism of antidepressant drugs by brain microsomes is of profound pharmacological significance.