Expression and induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes.

An in vitro experimental model, fetal rat hepatocytes in culture, was metabolically characterized. Several enzymatic activities were expressed in these hepatocytes, namely, testosterone hydroxylations. Hepatocytes cultured up to 3 weeks in the presence of dexamethasone and phenobarbital still expressed some drug-metabolizing enzyme activities (e.g., ECOD). The enzymatic activities were measured both directly on monolayers during culture and on the corresponding harvested and homogenized cells. The results correlate perfectly with each other. The 'on cell' procedure allows us to repeat the assay or to measure several activities on the same cells at different time intervals. The presence of dexamethasone in the culture medium allows the expression and the induction of several cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, namely, those hydroxylating testosterone. This makes the model particularly attractive for induction experiments as well as for metabolic or toxicological studies needing longer treatments.