Differential induction of cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase, epoxide hydrolase, glutathione transferase and UDP glucuronosyl transferase activities in the liver of the rainbow trout by beta-naphthoflavone or Clophen A50.

After administration of beta-naphthoflavone and Clophen A50 to juvenile rainbow trout, activities of hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin was increased 172- and 49-fold, respectively. Glutathione transferase activity towards 1-chloro 2,4 dinitrobenzene and UDP glucuronosyltransferase activities towards p-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol and testosterone were increased 1.4 to 3.0-fold by beta-naphthoflavone or Clophen A50. However, significant increases of the rate of glucuronidation of 1-naphthol by Clophen A50 and of testosterone by both Clophen A50 and beta-naphthoflavone were only determined when the activities were measured in digitonin activated microsomes. Epoxide hydrolase activity was not affected by beta-naphthoflavone or Clophen A50. The time course of induction of the various xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes exhibited different patterns. 7-Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity reached peak values 3 and 7 days after the administration of beta-naphthoflavone and Clophen A50, respectively. The rate of induction of glutathione transferase activity and UDP glucuronosyltransferase activities towards p-nitrophenol and 1-naphthol were relatively slow and did not reach distinct peak levels. These activities were still on maximum levels 4-6 weeks after the treatment. Glucuronidation of testosterone reached peak values 1 week after treatment with both beta-naphthoflavone and Clophen A50. The dissimilar patterns of induction of the cytochrome P-450-dependent activities and the various conjugation activities may indicate that these xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are differently regulated in the rainbow trout liver.