Influence of chlordecone and mirex exposure on benzo[a]pyrene metabolism of rat-liver microsomes

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Abstract
1. The metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in hepatic microsomes isolated from rats exposed to chlordecone or mirex was compared to that of untreated rats and rats treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or phenobarbital (PB). 2. Treatment with chlordecone resulted in a two- to three-fold increase in cytochrome P-450 content but the BP-hydroxylase activity per mg microsomal protein was unaffected. Addition of α-naphthoflavone (α-NF) or chlordecone caused changes in BP-hydroxylase activity indicating that chlordecone-induced cytochromes P-450 were similar to control. H.p.1.c. analyses of BP metabolites confirmed this similarity 3. Treatment with mirex caused a two-fold induction of cytochrome P-450, and BP-hydroxylase activity expressed per mg microsomal protein was increased 1.3-fold. Addition of chlordecone or a-NF caused changes in BP-hydroxylase activity, indicating differences between control and mirex-induced cytochromes P-450. H.p.1.c. analyses of BP metabolites confirmed this difference. 4. Treatment with chlordecone or mirex increased microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity three-fold. 5. Chlordecone accumulated in hepatic nuclei.