OBJECTIVES: CYP2D6 levels are higher in many brain regions of human smokers in comparison with nonsmokers. We have shown that CYP2D is expressed in rat brain regions and that enzyme activities correlate with protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels. The aims of this study were to investigate whether nicotine can induce rat brain CYP2D, to determine the recovery time course of the induction and to investigate the mechanism of induction through measuring mRNA levels over time. METHODS: Rats were either treated once with either saline or nicotine (1 mg base/kg, subcutaneous and sacrificed 8 hours after the treatment or treated daily for 7 days and sacrificed 0.5-24 hours after the last injection. The CYP2D protein and mRNA levels were assessed by immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry and slot blotting. RESULTS: There were no changes in brain CYP2D levels after a single nicotine injection. Following chronic nicotine treatment, levels were maximal at 8 hours and returned to control levels by 12 hours after nicotine treatment in all 3 regions assessed. At 8 hours after nicotine treatment, CYP2D levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than levels in saline-treated control animals in the cerebellum (1.4-fold), hippocampus (1.3-fold) and striatum (3.2-fold); they tended to be higher in the frontal cortex, brainstem and thalamus. Induction was specific to brain region and cell, for example, in some striatal neurons and in neurons in the cerebellar granular layer and white matter. At no time was there any increase in brain CYP2D mRNA levels. Hepatic CYP2D levels were unchanged at all times tested. CONCLUSION: Chronic nicotine treatment induced CYP2D enzymes in rat brain but not rat liver. The induction was maximal 8 hours after the last injection and did not involve alterations in mRNA, indicating a posttranscriptional mechanism. These findings suggest that, in humans exposed to nicotine, response to centrally acting drugs metabolized by CYP2D, susceptibility to neurotoxins either activated or inactivated by CYP2D and the general homeostasis of endogenous neurochemicals metabolized by CYP2D may be affected, owing to increased CYP2D in the brain.
OBJECTIVES:CYP2D6 levels are higher in many brain regions of human smokers in comparison with nonsmokers. We have shown that CYP2D is expressed in rat brain regions and that enzyme activities correlate with protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels. The aims of this study were to investigate whether nicotine can induce rat brain CYP2D, to determine the recovery time course of the induction and to investigate the mechanism of induction through measuring mRNA levels over time. METHODS:Rats were either treated once with either saline or nicotine (1 mg base/kg, subcutaneous and sacrificed 8 hours after the treatment or treated daily for 7 days and sacrificed 0.5-24 hours after the last injection. The CYP2D protein and mRNA levels were assessed by immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry and slot blotting. RESULTS: There were no changes in brain CYP2D levels after a single nicotine injection. Following chronic nicotine treatment, levels were maximal at 8 hours and returned to control levels by 12 hours after nicotine treatment in all 3 regions assessed. At 8 hours after nicotine treatment, CYP2D levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than levels in saline-treated control animals in the cerebellum (1.4-fold), hippocampus (1.3-fold) and striatum (3.2-fold); they tended to be higher in the frontal cortex, brainstem and thalamus. Induction was specific to brain region and cell, for example, in some striatal neurons and in neurons in the cerebellar granular layer and white matter. At no time was there any increase in brain CYP2D mRNA levels. Hepatic CYP2D levels were unchanged at all times tested. CONCLUSION: Chronic nicotine treatment induced CYP2D enzymes in rat brain but not rat liver. The induction was maximal 8 hours after the last injection and did not involve alterations in mRNA, indicating a posttranscriptional mechanism. These findings suggest that, in humans exposed to nicotine, response to centrally acting drugs metabolized by CYP2D, susceptibility to neurotoxins either activated or inactivated by CYP2D and the general homeostasis of endogenous neurochemicals metabolized by CYP2D may be affected, owing to increased CYP2D in the brain.
Authors: Shankar J Chinta; Harish V Pai; Sudarshan C Upadhya; Michael R Boyd; Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath Journal: Brain Res Mol Brain Res Date: 2002-06-30
Authors: Alina L Micu; Sharon Miksys; Edward M Sellers; Dennis R Koop; Rachel F Tyndale Journal: J Pharmacol Exp Ther Date: 2003-05-15 Impact factor: 4.030