SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE PATTERN OF CYTOCHROMES P-450 IN RAT LIVER MICROSOMES

ABSTRACT A number of sex differences in the spectral and enzymic properties of rat liver microsomes have been observed which may reflect differences in the population of hepatic cytochromes P 450 of male and female rats: 1. a blue shift in the spectrum of the reduced P 450-CO complex in females as compared to males, 2. lower ΔA max values in the binding of metyrapone to reduced microsomes in females as compared to males, 3. a higher proportion of 2-hydroxylation in the metabolism of biphenyl in females as compared to males, 4. preferential inhibition of ethoxycoumarin deethylation, benzpyrene hydroxylation and biphenyl-4-hydroxylation by α-naphthoflavone in females but by metyrapone in male…