Localization of Estrogen-induced DNA Adducts and Cytochrome P-450 Activity at the Site of Renal Carcinogenesis in the Hamster Kidney

Abstract

Renal carcinoma in male Syrian hamsters, induced by chronic administration of estradiol for 5–7 months, is known to arise in the cortex at the cortico-medullary junction. In this in vivo model for hormonal carcinogenesis, estrogen-induced covalent DNA adducts have previously been observed in whole kidney and have been postulated to be involved in tumor induction. In the present study, the intrarenal distribution of estrogen-induced DNA modification and estrogen metabolizing enzymes were investigated in male Syrian hamsters to ascertain a role of metabolism and adduct formation in estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. The highest estrogen-induced DNA adduct concentrations as measured by ³²P-postlabeling analysis were found in the renal cortex of hamsters treated with estradiol for 7 months. Total adduct levels in medullary DNA were approximately one-half of those found in cortex. Cytochrome P-450 enzymes were detected only in microsomes of kidney cortex (approximately 0.8 ± 0.6 nmol P-450/mg protein) but not medulla of untreated male Syrian hamsters. Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase activity in kidney cortical microsomes was ⅕ of the activity found in medullary microsomes. Thus, microsomal cytochrome P-450 levels and estrogen-induced DNA adduct formation were highest in hamster kidney cortex, the origin of renal tumorigenesis. It is postulated that estrogen metabolism by cytochrome P-450 enzymes leading to covalent DNA modification plays a role in hormonal carcinogenesis in the hamster kidney.