The effects of a high-fat and high-energy diet on the hepatic expression of CYP3A in developing female rats.

We aimed to investigate the effects of high-fat and high-energy (HFHE) diets on the hepatic expression of cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP3A) in developing female rats. The pups of the dams fed with the standard diet were defined as the NN group and those fed the HFHE diet were defined as the NH group. The mRNA and protein expression, the protein localization and activity was determined. The mRNA expression of CYP3A1 on day 3 in the NH group were higher versus NN groups (p < 0.05) and the expression of the NH group on days 28 and 56 were lower versus the NN group (p < 0.01). CYP3A1 immunolabeling had a zonal-restricted expressions pattern on day 28 and after in the NN groups, while the obvious zonal expression pattern was observed in the NH group on day 84. The mean activity for the NH groups on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 was higher versus the NN groups (p < 0.05). On day 84, the activity was lower for the NH group versus the NN group (p < 0.05). Our findings provide a basis for further studies on appropriate medication regimen in obese children.