Induction of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase and UDP glucuronosyl transferase by PCB in hepatic cell cultures.

The purpose of the investigation was to derive a hepatic cell line to be used in induction studies of drug metabolizing enzymes. Two pure cell lines were isolated from primary liver cell cultures, one with an epithelial-like appearance, the other with a fibroblast-like appearance. The specific activities of arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and UDP glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT) were greater in hepatocyte cultures than in primary cultures or in fibroblast cultures. PCB enhanced the activity of AHH and UDPGT in hepatocyte cultures. These results indicate that cultured hepatocytes can be used to study the effect of PCB on drug metabolizing enzymes.