TRANS-STILBENE OXIDE - NEW TYPE OF INDUCER OF DRUG-METABOLIZING-ENZYMES

Changes in hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes after interperitoneal administration of trans-stilbene oxide to rats have been investigated. This treatment increases the specific content of cytochrome P-450 over 2-fold, the specific activity of epoxide hydratase about 7-fold, and the specific activities of glutathione S-transferases 3- to 4-fold. On the other hand, enzyme markers for the soluble cytoplasm, lysosomes, the plasma membrane, and the inner mitochondrial membrane were not affected. The time course and the dose response of the changes brought about by trans-stilbene oxide have been characterized. trans-Stilbene oxide seems to be a different type of inducer of drug-metabolizing enzymes than either phenobarbital or methylcholanthrene. © 1979.