In vitro metabolism of 4-vinylcyclohexene in rat and mouse liver, lung, and ovary

A reproductive and developmental toxicity screening study of 1,3-butadiene in Sprague-Dawley rats

1,3 Butadiene (BD) is an industrial intermediate used primarily in product manufacturing with the greatest exposure potential via inhalation. BD was evaluated for reproductive and developmental effects in a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-compliant, extended OECD 421 guideline study (completed 2003). Twelve-week old rats (12/sex/dose) were exposed via whole-body inhalation to BD vapor (0, 300, 1500, 6000 ppm) for 6 h/day, 7 days/week, starting 14 days prior to mating through the day prior to euthanasia (total exposures: 83-84 days for F0 males 60-70 days for F0 females). Select F1 offspring (1/sex/litter) were dosed 7 days (postnatal days 21-27 or 28-34), then necropsied. At 1500 and 6000 ppm, treatment-related facial soiling was seen in F0 males and females with decreased body weights/gains in F0 males. F1 males and females exhibited similar effects at 1500 and 6000 ppm. Importantly, the F0 generation had no evidence of altered sperm production, testicular effects, or ovarian atrophy, which were sensitive responses in mice. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) is 300 ppm due to decreased body weight/gain and facial soiling at 1500 ppm, whereas 6000 ppm serves as a NOAEL for reproductive and developmental endpoints. This study contributes to the weight-of-evidence of differential BD reproductive toxicity in rats and mice.

Effect of CYP2E1 gene deletion in mice on expression of microsomal epoxide hydrolase in response to VCD exposure

Females are born with a finite number of primordial follicles. 4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) is a metabolite formed by epoxidation of 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH) via its two monoepoxides 1,2- and 7,8-4-vinylcyclohexene monoepoxide (VCM). VCD specifically destroys small preantral (primordial and small primary) follicles in the rodent ovary. The phase I enzyme, cytochrome P450 isoform 2E1 (CYP2E1) is involved in ovarian metabolism of VCM to VCD. Further, microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) can detoxify VCD to an inactive tetrol (4-(1,2-dihydroxy)ethyl-1,2-dihydroxycyclohexane). This study evaluated the effects of VCD-induced ovotoxicity on mEH in CYP2E1+/+ and -/- mice (129S(1)/SvImJ background strain) using a postnatal day 4 mouse whole ovary culture system. The hypothesis of our study is that there is a relationship between CYP2E1 and mEH gene expression in the mouse ovary. Relative to control, VCD exposure caused follicle loss (p < 0.05) in ovaries from both genotypes; however, after 15 days, this loss was greater (p < 0.05) in CYP2E1+/+ ovaries. In a time course (2-15 days), relative to control, VCD (5 microM) caused an increase (p < 0.05) in mEH mRNA by 0.5-fold (day 10) and 1.84-fold (day 15) in CYP2E1-/- but not +/+ ovaries. 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) also destroys ovarian follicles but, unlike VCD, is bioactivated by mEH to an ovotoxic 3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide metabolite. Incubation of ovaries in increasing concentrations of DMBA (0.5-1 microM, 15 days) resulted in greater (p < 0.05) follicle loss in CYP2E1-/-, relative to +/+ ovaries. With greater mEH (CYP2E1-/-), increased follicle loss with DMBA (bioactivation) and decreased follicle loss with VCD (detoxification) support that ovarian expression of CYP2E1 and mEH may be linked.

Involvement of CYP 2E1 enzyme in ovotoxicity caused by 4-vinylcyclohexene and its metabolites

4-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH) is bioactivated by hepatic CYP 2A and 2B to a monoepoxide (VCM) and subsequently to an ovotoxic diepoxide metabolite (VCD). Studies suggest that the ovary can directly bioactivate VCH via CYP 2E1. The current study was designed to evaluate the role of ovarian CYP 2E1 in VCM-induced ovotoxicity. Postnatal day 4 B6C3F(1) and CYP 2E1 wild-type (+/+) and null (-/-) mouse ovaries were cultured (15 days) with VCD (30 microM), 1,2-VCM (125-1000 microM), or vehicle. Twenty-eight days female CYP 2E1 +/+ and -/- mice were dosed daily (15 days; ip) with VCH, 1,2-VCM, VCD or vehicle. Following culture or in vivo dosing, ovaries were histologically evaluated. In culture, VCD decreased (p<0.05) primordial and primary follicles in ovaries from all three groups of mice. 1,2-VCM decreased (p<0.05) primordial follicles in B6C3F(1) and CYP 2E1 +/+ ovaries, but not in CYP 2E1 -/- ovaries in culture. 1,2-VCM did not affect primary follicles in any group of mouse ovaries. Conversely, following in vivo dosing, primordial and primary follicles were reduced (p<0.05) by VCD and VCM in CYP2E1 +/+ and -/-, and by VCH in +/+ mice. The data demonstrate that, whereas in vitro ovarian bioactivation of VCM requires CYP 2E1 enzyme, in vivo CYP 2E1 plays a minimal role. Thus, the findings support that hepatic metabolism dominates the contribution made by the ovary in bioactivation of VCM to its ovotoxic metabolite, VCD. This study also demonstrates the use of a novel ovarian culture system to evaluate ovary-specific metabolism of xenobiotics.

Accelerated ovarian failure induced by 4-vinyl cyclohexene diepoxide in Nrf2 null mice

Genetic and biochemical analyses have uncovered an essential role for nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in regulating phase II xenobiotic metabolism and antioxidant response. Here we show that Nrf2 protects against the ovarian toxicity of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) in mice. Nrf2-/- female mice exposed to VCD exhibit an age-dependent decline in reproduction leading to secondary infertility accompanied by hypergonadotropic hypogonadism after 30 weeks of age. VCD is shown to selectively destroy small ovarian follicles, resulting in early depletion of functional follicles. Treatment with VCD induces apoptotic death in cultured cells and in ovarian follicles, suggesting apoptosis as a mechanism of follicle loss. Loss of Nrf2 function blocks the basal and inducible expression of microsomal epoxide hydrolase, a key enzyme in the detoxification of VCD, and increases the oxidative stress in cells that is further exacerbated by VCD. Foxo3a, a repressor in the early stages of follicle activation, displays reduced expression in Nrf2-/- ovaries, causing accelerated growth of follicles in the absence of exposure to exogenous chemicals. Furthermore, Foxo3a is degraded through the 26S proteasome pathway in untreated cells and is induced by VCD via both Nrf2-dependent transcription and protein stabilization. This study demonstrates that Nrf2 serves as an essential sensor and regulator of chemical homeostasis in ovarian cells, protecting the cells from toxic chemicals by controlling metabolic detoxification, reactive oxygen species defense, and Foxo3a expression. In addition, these findings raise the possibility that exposure to environmental or occupational ovotoxicants plays a role in the premature ovarian failure commonly associated with infertility and premature aging in women.

Stereochemical aspects in the 4-vinylcyclohexene biotransformation with rat liver microsomes and purified cytochrome P450s: diepoxide formation and hydrolysis

The stereochemical course of the biotransformation of 1,2-monoepoxides of 4-vinylcyclohexene (2 and 3) by liver microsomes from control and induced rats and by purified P4502B1 and P4502E1 has been determined. The epoxidation of monoexpodies cis-4-vinylcyclohexene 1,2-epoxide (2) and trans-4-vinylcyclohexene 1,2-epoxide (3) gives the corresponding eight isomeric diepoxides cis-4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (9) and trans-4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (10). The stereoselectivity of this process is affected by P450 induction. Phenobarbital is able to enhance the yield of epoxidation to give preferentially diepoxide (1R, 2S, 4R, 7R)-trans-10b. This enantiomer is also formed as nearly the sole product by P450-catalyzed epoxidation of (1R,2S,4R)-trans-3b, the monoepoxide that, as a consequence of the selective formation from 4-vinylcyclohexene and/or reduced elimination by epoxide hydrolase, tends to accumulate in rat. Also, the P4502B1 but not 2E1, in a reconstituted system, is able to perform the epoxidation of (1R,2S,4R)-trans-3b to produce selectively the same diepoxide. Diepoxides cis-9 and trans-10 are biotransformed by mEH catalyzed hydrolysis. Although the hydrolysis of diepoxides 9 is characterized by a lower substrate enantioselection, the reaction of diepoxides 10 occurs with a good substrate enantioselectivity favoring the hydrolysis of the epoxides (1R,2S,4R,7S)-trans-10b and (1S,2R,4S,7S)-trans-10a. Diepoxide (1R,2S,4R,7R)-trans-10b is therefore the isomer primarily formed by P450-catalyzed oxidation of monoepoxide trans-3, and it is also the compound showing the lower propensity to undergo mEH-catalyzed hydrolysis. On the basis of this result, the ovotoxicity of 4-vinylcyclohexene is expected to be due to the stereoisomer diepoxide (1R,2S,4R,7R)-trans-10b, whose biological reactivity, via cross-linking, may be strongly different to the other isomer diepoxides, being dependent by its specific conformation.

Effect of 4-vinylcyclohexene on micronucleus formation in the bone marrow of rats and mice

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH) to induce micronuclei in the bone marrow of mice and rats. Male and female Crl:CD BR (Sprague-Dawley) rats and B6C3F1/CrBR mice were exposed to VCH 6 hr/day for 2 days or for 13 weeks. In the 2-day study, mice were exposed by inhalation to 0, 250, 500, or 1000 ppm, and rats were exposed to 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 ppm. In the 13-week study, mice were exposed to 0, 50, 250, or 1000 ppm, and rats were exposed to 0, 250, 1000, or 1500 ppm. In each study, a separate group of mice was exposed to 1000 ppm 1,3-butadiene (BD) so that a comparison could be made between the two compounds. Likewise, cyclophosphamide was also included for rats as a positive control. Bone marrow was collected from VCH-exposed animals approximately 24 h and 48 h after the final exposure. There were no statistically significant increases in micronucleatedpolychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCEs) among VCH-treated mice and rats at any dose level or sampling interval at either 2-days or 13-weeks. Also, no statistically significant differences in the polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) to normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) ratios were observed in any of the VCH-treated mice and rats compared to air-exposed animals. As expected, both the butadiene-treated mice and the cyclophosphamide-treated rats showed significantly more MN-PCEs than the control animals.

Stereochemical Aspects in the 4-Vinylcyclohexene Biotransformation with Rat Liver Microsomes and Purified P450s. Monoepoxides and Diols

The stereochemical course of the biotransformation of 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH, 1) by liver microsomes from male and female control and induced rats and purified rat P450 2B1 and 2E1 has been determined. The epoxidation of 1, catalyzed by male microsomes, occurs on both the endo- and exocyclic double bond to give four isomeric epoxides, cis-4-vinylcyclohexene 1,2-epoxide (2), trans-4-vinylcyclohexene 1,2-epoxide (3), (4R*,7S*)-4-vinylcyclohexene 7,8-epoxide (4), and (4R*,7R*)-4-vinylcyclohexene 7,8-epoxide (5). On the other hand, microsomes from female rats catalyzed primarily the endocyclic epoxidation. The stereoselectivity of this process was strongly dependent on gender and P450 induction. Only the phenobarbital and pyrazole, at lower levels, were able to enhance the epoxidation of 1 and mostly on the endocyclic double bond. Also, P450 2E1 and 2B1 in a reconstituted system were able to perform the epoxidation of 1 primarily on its endocyclic double bond. The metabolites, cis- and trans-4-vinylcyclohexene 1,2-epoxide (2 and 3, respectively) and the isomeric 4-vinylcyclohexene 7,8-epoxides (4 and 5), were rapidly biotransformed into the corresponding vicinal diols by mEH-catalyzed hydrolysis. The reaction of the endocyclic epoxides occurred with good substrate diastereo- and enantioselectivity favoring the hydrolysis of epoxides (1S,2R,4S)-3 and (1R,2S,4S)-2 to give, before 50% conversion, selectively (1R,2R,4S)-diol (6). At variance, the hydrolysis of the exocyclic epoxides was characterized by a high level of substrate enantioselection associated with a very low, if any, level of substrate diastereoselection, the two epoxides, (4R,7S)-4 and (4R,7R)-5, being hydrolyzed practically with the same rate. On the basis of the major resistance to mEH hydrolysis, the endocyclic epoxides, (1R,2S,4R)-3 and (1S,2R,4R)-2, are expected to be further oxidized, in a stereochemical manner, to the specific mutagenic diepoxides which are thought to play a crucial role in VCH ovotoxicity. Thus, VCH ovotoxicity may be markedly affected by the reactivity of the diepoxidic stereoisomers formed and detoxicated.