INDUCTION OF PEROXISOMAL ENZYMES IN RAT-LIVER BY DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE

Male F-344 rats, when treated with either 150 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg body weight of DHEAS for 14 days, produced a dose-dependent increase in liv er weight and peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity, characteristic of p eroxisomal proliferation. Contrary to previous observations in vitro, we also found a significant increase in catalase activity in rat liver with the higher dose of the steroid. Furthermore, the in vivo inducti on of peroxisomal beta-oxidation by DHEAS observed in our study was si gnificantly less than reported in vitro, and also unlike previously re ported in vitro results, was approximately equivalent to DHEA administ ered in vivo. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.