K. Stokke et J. Stenersen, NON-INDUCIBILITY OF THE GLUTATHIONE TRANSFERASES OF THE EARTHWORM EISENIA-ANDREI, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. C. Comparative pharmacologyand toxicology, 106(3), 1993, pp. 753-756
1. Earthworms were exposed to solutions of potential biotransformation
enzyme inducers, i.e. trans-stilbene oxide (0.1 mM), 3-methylcholanth
rene (50 mu M) or 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridoxyl)]benzene (30 mu M)
for 1 hr each day in three successive days. 2. Glutathione transferase
(GST) was determined in cytosolic extracts of the worms the day after
the last treatment, with chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 1,2-dichloro-4-ni
trobenzene and ethacrynic acid as electrophilic substrates. Activity t
oward 1,2-epoxy-3-[p-nitro-fenoxy]propane was not detected. 3. With al
l three substrates, the specific activity in the cytosol was similar i
n treated animals and controls. 4. Ion exchange chromatography was per
formed on a NeoBar AQ(TM) column (The ''Low Pressure High Performance'
' technique), and GST eluted in four distinct peaks. 5. The elution pr
ofiles of GST activity were almost identical for exposed earthworms an
d controls. 6. The results suggest that earthworms may not have induci
ble GST, perhaps because they are detritus eaters, and do not need to
detoxicate poisonous secondary plant metabolites.