CYTOCHROME-P450 2E1 MESSENGER-RNA IN THE RAT PROSTATE - DETECTION ANDQUANTITATION BY COMPETITIVE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION AND POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION

Cytochrome P450 2E1 plays a pivotal role in the metabolic activation o f a wide variety of low molecular weight environmental toxicants and p rocarcinogens. In the present study, expression of the P450 2E1 gene i n the rat prostate gland was quantitated by competitive reverse transc ription and the polymerase chain reaction. To assess accurately the in duction level of P450 2E1 mRNA in the prostate after pyridine treatmen t of rats, a recombinant standard RNA was generated that is homologous to the sequence of P450 2E1 mRNA except for an internal deletion of 1 00 bases. The data indicate that P450 2E1 mRNA is present in the prost ate of untreated animals and is induced about four-fold by treatment w ith pyridine. The results suggest that exposure to certain environment al chemicals and procarcinogens may increase P450 2E1 levels in the pr ostate gland and thus could enhance formation of reactive, carcinogeni c metabolites. (C) 1998 Academic Press.