• Toxicological Research
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.331-339
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• 2002

Phenoxy compounds, 2,4-Dichlorophenol acetoxy acid (2,4-D) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), are widely used as a hormonal herbicide and intermediate for pesticide manufacturing, respectively. In order to assess the potential of these compounds as endocrine disruptors, we studied the androgenicity of them wing in vivo and in vitro androgenicity assay system. Administration of 2,4-D (50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) or DCP (100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) to rats caused an increase in the tissue weight of ventral prostate, Cowpers gland and glands penis. These increase of androgen-dependent tissues were additively potentiated when rats were simultaneously treated with low dose of testosterone (1 g/kg, s.c.). 2,4-D increased about 350% of the luciferase activity in the PC cells transiently cotransfected phAR and pMMTV-Luc at concentration of $10^{-9}$ M. In 2,4-D or DCP-treated castrated rats, testosterone 6$\beta$-hydroxylase activity was not significantly modulated even when rats were co-treated with testosterone. In vitro incubation of 2,4-D and DCP with microsomes at 50 $\mu$M inhibited testosterone 6$\beta$-hydroxylase activity about 27% and 66% in rat liver microsomes, about 44% and 54% in human liver microsomes and about 50% and 45% in recombinant CYP3A4 system, respectively. The amounts of total testosterone metabolites were reduced about 33% and 75% in rat liver microsomes, 69% and 73% in human liver microsomes and 54% and 64% in recombinant CYP3A4 by 2,4-D or DCP, respectively. Therefore, the additive androgenic effect of 2,4-D or DCP by the co-administration of the low dose of testosterone may be due to the increased plasma level of testosterone by inhibiting the cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of testosterone. These results collectively suggested that 2,4-D and DCP may act as androgenic endocrine disrupter by binding to the androgen receptor as well as by inhibiting the metabolism of testosterone.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.525-528
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• 1997

Steroid $9{\alpha}$.-hydroxylase is a key enzyme system in steroid nucleus degradation in company with ${\Delta}$-dehydrogenase. To examine $9{\alpha}$-hydroxylase activity during microbial transformation of steroids, 9(11)-dehydro-$17{\alpha}$-methyl-testosterone was adopted as a stable substrate for preventing the rupture of steroid nucleus. Using Nocardia restrictus ATCC 14887 capable of introducing a $9{\alpha}$-hydroxyl group into steroids, $9{\alpha}$,$11{\alpha}$-oxido-$17{\beta}$-hydroxy-$17{\alpha}$-methyl-4-androstene-3-one and $9{\alpha}$-hydroxyl group into steroids,$9{\alpha}$,$11{\alpha}$-oxido-$17{\beta}$-hydroxy-$17{\alpha}$-methyl-1,4-androstadiene-3- one were obtained. These microbiologically transformed products could be used as reference compounds in the enzyme assay.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.695-701
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• 1998

한국산 꽃뱀(Natrix tigrina Lateralis)의 간 마이크로좀에 존재하는 mixed function oxidase system 구성 성분들의 함량과 P45O 의존성 monooxygenase의 활성도를 조사하고 이들을 흰쥐(Sp. D)의 것과 상호 비교하였다. 꽃뱀에서의 P45O, b5 함량 및 NADPH-cytochrome c reductase 활성도는 흰쥐에서 보다 낮았으며, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase와 benzphetamine N-demethylase 활성도 역시 흰쥐에서 보다 상당히 낮았다. 그러나 aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase와 testosterone hydroxylase 활성도는 흰쥐와 비교할 때 거의 비슷하거나 오히려 높았다. Testosterone의 수산화 반응에 대한 선택특이성을 조사한 결과, 꽃 뱀은 7$\alpha$ 위치에서, 흰쥐는 6$\beta$ 위치에서 가장 높은 수산화 반응물을 생성했다. 그러나 testosterone의 C2와 C3 위치에서의 수산화 반응에 대한 선택특이성은 꽃뱀과 흰쥐에서 비슷하였다. Radioimmunoassay (RlA)를 실시하여 5종 (CYP2B, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP3A 및 CYP2El)의 P45O 동위효소의 구성비를 비교한 결과, 꽃뱀에서는 CYP1A1/1A2가, 흰쥐에서는 CYP2El이 각각 비교적 많이 존재하였다. 부분정제한 P45O을 SDS-PAGE와 RIA로 분석한 결과, 꽃뱀의 간 마이크로좀에 존재하는 P45O중에는 흰쥐와는 다른 종류의 P45O 동위효소가 존재함을 시사하였다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2004

KR-31543, (2S,3R,4S)-6-amino-4-[N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-(2 -methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-ylmethyl) amino]-3,4-dihydro-2-dimethoxymethyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-2H-1-benzopyran, is a new neuroprotective agent for preventing ischemia-reperfusion damage. This study was performed to identify the metabolic pathway of KR-31543 in human liver microsomes and to characterize cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of KR-31543. Human liver microsomal incubation of KR-31543 in the presence of NADPH resulted in the formation of two metabolites, M1 and M2. M1 was identified as N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-ylmethyl)amine on the basis of LC/MS/MS analysis with a synthesized authentic standard, and M2 was suggested to be hydroxy-KR-31543. Correlation analysis between the known CYP enzyme activities and the rates of the formation of M 1 and M2 in the 12 human liver microsomes have showed significant correlations with testosterone 6$\beta$-hydroxylase activity (a marker of CYP3A4). Ketoconazole, a selective inhibitor of CYP3A4, and anti-CYP3A4 monoclonal antibodies potently inhibited both N-hydrolysis and hydroxylation of KR-31543 in human liver microsomes. These results provide evidence that CYP3A4 is the major isozyme responsible for the metabolism of KR-31543 to M1 and M2.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제23권12호
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• pp.1566-1577
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• 2010

Nandrolone, 19-nortestosterone, is a synthetic androgenic-anabolic steroid promoting muscle growth. Nandrolone is also present in pig meat and sera at non-negligible levels. A number of scientific reports have suggested a positive relationship between incidence of infertility and increased meat consumption in humans. The present study was designed to determine out the effect of feeding nandrolone on the testis of the male reproductive tract. Mixtures of food and nandrolone at different concentrations (0.005 ppm and 0.5 ppm) were supplied to pubertal male rats for 6 weeks. Body weight was recorded every week during the entire experimental period. At the end of the treatment, the testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat were collected and weighted. Sperm numbers in the caudal epididymis were counted. Differential gene or protein expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups was determined by semi-quantitative real-time PCR or western blotting analysis, respectively. Histological changes of the testis induced by nandrolone treatment were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental animals. There were no significant changes on body, testis, epididymis, and epididymal fat weights among experimental groups. A significant increase of caudal sperm number was found in the 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated group. Histological examination of the testes noted a high frequency of germ cell sloughing in seminiferous tubules of 0.5 ppm nandrolone-treated rats. Even though transcript levels of $3{\beta}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) I, $17{\beta}$-HSD4, and $17{\alpha}$-hydroxylase were influenced by nandrolone treatments, protein levels of all molecules examined in the present study were not significantly affected. Immunohistochemical analysis showed no visible changes in the localization of steroidogenic enzymes in the testes among experimental groups. The current study showed that oral intake of nandrolone in male rats for 6 weeks did not cause significant damage to the testis. It is considered that a feeding effect of nandrolone on male fertility would not be remarkable.