Comparative in vitro metabolism of methoxychlor in male and female rats: metabolism of demethylated methoxychlor metabolites by precision-cut rat liver slices

Xenobiotica. 2005 Jul;35(7):683-95. doi: 10.1080/00498250500230693.

Abstract

The in vitro metabolism of demethylated methoxychlor (MXC) metabolites, mono-OH-MXC (including (R)- and (S)-isomers) and bis-OH-MXC (mono- and bis-demethylated MXC, respectively), was conducted using precision-cut liver slices to understand the sex-dependent metabolism of MXC in rats. In the study with bis-OH-MXC, the substrate underwent extensive conjugation producing its glucuronide and glucuronide/sulphate diconjugate, and no significant sex differences were found. On the contrary, the metabolism of mono-OH-MXC appeared to exhibit the sex differences in the metabolic profiles. The bis-OH-MXC glucuronide and glucuronide/sulphate diconjugate were major metabolites in male rat, whereas the mono- and bis-OH-MXC glucuronides predominated in the female. The per cent distribution of the demethylated products (sum of bis-OH-MXC derivatives) was approximately 90% for the male (for both isomers) and 81 (R-) to 56% (S-) for the female. The metabolic profiles in (S)-mono-OH-MXC, which is the predominant enantiomer preferentially produced in MXC metabolism in rats, showed a similar pattern to that of MXC compared with the (R)-isomer. The results indicate that the sex differences in oxidative demethylation of the intermediate, (S)-mono-OH-MXC, could be one of the probable reasons for the sex-dependent metabolism of MXC in rats, and the stereo-structural preference of the contributing demethylase enzymes appear to be involved.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Insecticides / metabolism
  • Insecticides / pharmacokinetics*
  • Insecticides / pharmacology
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Male
  • Methoxychlor / metabolism
  • Methoxychlor / pharmacokinetics*
  • Methoxychlor / pharmacology
  • Microdissection / methods
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Sex Factors
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating
  • Methoxychlor