The capability of rat brain mitochondria to metabolize a variety of xenobiotics was examined. The presence of cytochrome P450 (P450) and associated monooxygenase activities were estimated in isolated rat brain mitochondria and compared with the corresponding activities in microsomes. Total P450 content in brain mitochondria from naive rats was twice that of the corresponding microsomal level. The ability of brain mitochondria to metabolize the potent carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine was more than twofold that of the corresponding microsomal activity, while the 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase activity was significantly lower in mitochondria. Immunoblot experiments using antisera to purified rat liver microsomal P450s, namely P450 (2B1/2B2), P450LA1, and P4502E1, and purified phenobarbital-inducible rat brain P450, revealed the presence of immunoreactive bands in isolated brain mitochondria. These various antibodies to P450 inhibited the brain mitochondrial monooxygenase activities to significant, though varying extent. The addition of antiserum to microsomal NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase did not affect the mitochondrial P450 associated monooxygenase activities, although it completely inhibited the corresponding microsomal activities. Chronic ethanol administration resulted in twofold induction of total P450 content and the monooxygenase activities known to be mediated by P4502E1, such as N-nitrosodimethylamine-N-demethylase and p-nitrophenol hydroxylase in brain mitochondria. Pretreatment of animals with phenobarbital resulted in the induction of aminopyrine N-demethylase activity in brain mitochondria. The study demonstrates the presence of multiple forms of P450 in the rat brain mitochondria, their inducibility, and their capability to metabolize xenobiotics. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.
