ENHANCEMENT OF LIVER MICROSOME EPOXIDE HYDRATASE ACTIVITY IN RODENTS BY TREATMENT WITH 2(3)-TERT-BUTYL-4-HYDROXYANISOLE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 38  (12) , 4496-4498
Abstract
Administration of the antioxidant 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) in the diet caused a marked increase in the specific activity of epoxide hydratase (EC 4.2.1.63) in hepatic microsomes of CD-1 mice. The increases in epoxide hydratase activities produced by BHA were far greater (11-fold) than were those produced by the administration of well-known enzyme inducers such as 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbital and Aroclor 1254 (2-3-fold). The near-maximal increase in epoxide hydratase activity was observed after feeding of the BHA diet for 3 days. When BHA was administered by gastric intubation, the level of increase was only 75% of that attained by feeding BHA in the diet. The increase in epoxide hydratase activity produced by BHA treatment of Sprague-Dawley rats was not as pronounced (< 3-fold) as that observed in CD-1 mice.