Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contrasting effects of ethylenethiourea on hepatic monooxygenases in rats and mice

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Archives of Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of ethylenethiourea (ETU) on the hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing system in rats and mice were investigated. Male rats and male mice were given oral doses of 50 and 75, or 50, 75, 100, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg for 3 days. The microsomal enzymes studied were aminopyrine N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase, and cytochrome P-450. In rats, the activity of aminopyrine N-demethylase was reduced to values between 60 and 70% of controls 24 h after treatment. A decrease in aniline hydroxylase activity and cytochrome P-450 content was observed on the 3rd day after exposure. In mice, treatment with ETU resulted in an increase of cytochrome P-450 at all dose levels. The activity of aniline hydroxylase was significantly elevated in the groups receiving doses of 100 mg/kg and higher. Aminopyrine N-demethylase was unaffected by the treatment. The results suggest that there are qualitative differences between rats and mice after ETU exposure with respect to the response of the hepatic monooxygenases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen JR, Van Miller JP, Seymour JL (1978) Absorption, tissue distribution and excretion of 14C-ethylenethiourea by the rhesus monkey and rat. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 20: 109–115

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Antio K (1982) Ethylenethiourea: metabolism, analysis and aspects of toxicity. Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT, Tutkimuksia

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleyl DWR, Lewerenz HJ (1978) Postnatale Auswirkungen einer einmaligen Äthylenthioharnstoff-Applikation an trächtigen Ratten während der späten Fetogenese. Wiss Z d Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Greifswald, Med Reihe 27: 175–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Chernoff N, Kavlock RJ, Rogers EH, Carver BD, Murray S (1979) Perinatal toxicity of maneb, ethylene thiourea, and ethylene-bisisothiocyanate sulfide in rodents. J Toxicol Environ Health 5: 821–834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cinti DL, Moldeus P, Schenkman JB (1972) Kinetic parameters of drug metabolizing enzymes in Ca2+-sedimented microsomes from rat liver. Biochem Pharmacol 21: 3249–3256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Engst R, Schnaak W (1974) Residues of dithiocarbamate fungicides and their metabolites on plant foods. Residue Reviews 52: 45–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenthal RI, Kerchner G, Persing R, Baron RL (1977) Dietary subacute toxicity of ethylenethiourea in the laboratory rat. J Environ Pathol Toxicol 1: 147–161

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gak J-C, Graillot C, Truhaut R (1976) Différence de sensibilité du hamster et du rat vis-à-vis des effects de l'administration à long terme de l'ethylène thiorée. Eur J Toxicol 9: 303–312

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graham SL, Hansen WH (1972) Effects of short-term administration of ethylenethiourea upon thyroid function of the rat. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 7: 19–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graham SL, Hansen WH, Davis KJ, Perry CH (1973) Effects of one-year administration of ehtylenethiourea upon the thyroid of the rat. J Agric Food Chem 21: 324–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graham SL, Davis KJ, Hansen WH, Graham CH (1975) Effects of prolonged ethylenethiourea ingestion on the thyroid of the rat. Food Cosmet Toxicol 13: 493–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Innes JR, Ulland BM, Valeric MG, Petrucelli L, Fishbein L, Hart ER, Palotta AJ, Bates RR, Falk HL, Gart JJ, Klein M, Mitchel I, Peters J (1969) Bioassay of pesticides and industrial chemicals for tumorigenicity in mice: a preliminary note. J Nat Cancer Inst 42: 1101–1114

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • IUPAC (1977) Ethylenethiourea. Pure Appl Chem 49: 675–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iverson F, Khera KS, Hierlihy SL (1980) In vivo and in vitro metabolism of ethylenethiourea in the rat and the cat. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 52: 16–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khera KS (1973) Ethylenethiourea: teratogenicity study in rats and rabbits. Teratology 7: 243–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khera KS, Tryphonas L (1977) Ethylenethiourea-induced hydrocephalus: Pre- and postnatal pathogenesis in offspring from rats given single oral dose during pregnancy. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 42: 85–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewerenz HJ, Bleyl DWR, Plass R, Engst R (1977a) Toxicology of ethylenethiourea. In: Zaidi SH (ed) Industrial Toxicology Centre, Lucknow (Environmental pollution and human health. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Industrial Toxicology, November 4–7, 1975, pp 639–660)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewerenz HJ, Bleyl DWR, Plass R (1977b) Toxizitätsuntersuchungen von Äthylenthioharnstoff. Forschungsbericht des Zentralinstituts für Ernährung Potsdam-Rehbrücke der AdW der DDR

  • Lewerenz HJ, Plass R (1978) Effect of ethylenethiourea on hepatic microsomal enzymes in the rat. Arch Toxicol Suppl 1: 189–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewerenz HJ, Schnaak W (1978) Wirkung von Äthylenthioharnstoff auf saugende Ratten. Mh Vet Med 33: 139–142

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewerenz HJ, Bleyl DWR (1980) Postnatal effects of oral administration of ethylenethiourea to rats during late pregnancy. Arch Toxicol Suppl 4: 292–295

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosenbrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193: 265–275

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazel P (1971) Experiments illustrating drug metabolism in vitro. In: LaDu BN, Mandel MG, Way EL (eds) Fundamentals of drug metabolism and drug disposition, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Plass R, Lewerenz HJ (1978) Wirkung von Äthylenthioharnstoff auf mikrosomale Leberenzyme der Ratte. Arch Exp Vet Med 32: 585–591

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruddick JA, Khera KS (1975) Pattern of anomalies following single oral doses of ethylenethiourea to pregnant rats. Teratology 12: 277–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruddick JA, Newsome WH, Iverson F (1977) A comparison of the distribution, metabolism and excretion of ethylenethiourea in the pregnant mouse and rat. Teratology 16: 159–162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teramoto S, Shingu A, Kaneda M, Saito R (1978a) Teratogenicity studies with ethylenethiourea in rats, mice and hamsters. Congenital Anomalies 18: 11–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Teramoto S, Harada T, Kaneda M (1978b) Effects of ethylenethiourea upon developing brain and limb buds in the rat. Congenital Anomalies 18: 241–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulland BM, Weisburger JH, Weisburger EK, Rice JM, Cypher R (1972) Thyroid cancer in rats from ethylene thiourea intake. J Nat Cancer Inst 49: 583–584

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine, Central Institute of Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Academy of Sciences of the GDR, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 1505, Bergholz-Rehbrücke, Germany

    H. J. Lewerenz & R. Plass

Authors
  1. H. J. Lewerenz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Plass
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lewerenz, H.J., Plass, R. Contrasting effects of ethylenethiourea on hepatic monooxygenases in rats and mice. Arch Toxicol 56, 92–95 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349078

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349078

Key wobrds

Search

Navigation