Effect of a Prudhoe Bay crude oil on hepatic and renal peroxisomal beta-oxidation and mixed-function oxidase activities in rats

Abstract

The effect of oral administration of a Prudhoe Bay crude oil (PBCO) to male rats (PBCO, 2.6 g/kg body weight, daily) for 5-12 days on hepatic and renal microsomal monooxygenase activities and peroxisomal beta-oxidation has been investigated. PBCO administration leads to liver enlargement. This is associated with induction of microsomal cytochrome P-450 levels (1.6- to 2.0-fold) and dependent mixed-function oxidase activities (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-depentylase, representing cytochrome P-450I and cytochrome P-450IIB isoenzymes respectively, 9- to 15-fold; omega-oxidation of lauric acid representing the cytochrome P-450IVA1 isoenzyme, 1.4- to 1.5-fold) along with peroxisomal beta-oxidation (palmitoyl CoA oxidation, 2- to 5-fold). It was observed that rats exposed to PBCO showed an increase in renal microsomal cytochrome P-450 content (1.6- to 2.3-fold), cytochrome P-450I activity (5- to 8-fold) and omega-oxidation activity (1.3- to 1.4-fold). However, renal peroxisomal beta-oxidation was unaltered. Serum total triglycerides were lowered by 41-46% after PBCO exposure. These results suggest that induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation and possibly mono-oxygenases may be related to the carcinogenic/tumorigenic potential of crude oil.