2-METHOXY-4-NITROANILINE IS A SELECTIVE INDUCER OF CYTOCHROME P450IA2(CYP1A2) IN RAT-LIVER

Male F344 rats were treated with a chemical (aniline, nitrobenzene, 2- methoxy-p-phenylenediamine, 2-methoxy-4-nitroaniline or 2-methoxy-4-ni troazobenzene) produced by the azo-reduction and/or N-oxidation of 2-m ethoxy-4-amino-azobenzene, a selective inducer of cytochrome P450IA2 ( CYP1A2), and their effects on the induction of CYP1A enzymes in the li ver were examined in terms of the protein and mRNA amounts. 2-Methoxy- 4-nitroaniline and 2-methoxy-4-nitroazobenzene, but not other compound s tested, induced CYP1A enzymes, especially CYP1A2, as assessed by Wes tern blotting and Northern blotting. It is noteworthy that 2-methoxy-4 -nitroaniline was more selective than 2-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene for induction of CYP1A2, and it has the smallest molecular size among the known CYP1A2 inducers.