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Female Sprague Dawley rats were fed polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) for six months after a 70% partial hepatectomy and diethylnitrosamine administration (10 mg/kg body weight) to determine if PBB could serve as a tumor promoter in a two stage hepatocarcinogenesis test system. Firemaster BP-6, a commercial mixture of PBB, and its major congener, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) were used in this study. Tumor promoting ability was assessed by measuring enzyme altered foci exhibiting gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity. Dietary concentrations of 10 and 100 p.p.m. of the mixture of PBB and of HBB were found to be promoters of hepatocarcinogenesis. The mixture of PBB had a greater tumor promoting ability than HBB.

Using an in vitro assay system to measure a form of cell-cell communication in Chinese hamster V79 cells, several purified polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) congeners were analyzed for their ability to affect colony-forming ability and "metabolic cooperation" in these cells. Results clearly demonstrate the assay's ability to distinguish differences in the cytotoxic and metabolic cooperation-inhibiting properties of these congeners related to their structure. It appears that if a carbon ortho to the bridge carbon of each phenyl ring is brominated, the molecule has the property by which metabolic cooperation is inhibited. The results suggest that several PBB congeners share at least one property associated with several known tumor promoters, such as the phorbol esters. Although we have not ruled out that the mixture of PBB congeners might contain initiators or that various PBB metabolites would be mutagen/initiators, based on these and other results, it was concluded that the reported carcinogenic potential of PBB seems to be mediated by its action as a tumor promoter, rather than as a complete carcinogen or an initiator.

Specific immunochemical techniques were used to quantitate the levels of eight isozymes of cytochrome P-450 (P-450) and epoxide hydrolase in liver microsomes of untreated rats and rats treated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene, a mixture of these two compounds, nine individual polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) congeners, and a commercial mixture of PBBs. Levels of two 3-methylcholanthrene-inducible P-450s (designated P-450 beta NF-B and P-450 beta NF/ISF-G) varied over two orders of magnitude and were highly correlated. The levels of four phenobarbital-inducible P-450s (designated P-450PB-B, P-450PB-C, P-450PB-D, and P-450PB/PCN-E) were all correlated to each other. The level of one form, P-450UT-A, which was present at substantial levels in untreated rats, was inversely correlated to the levels of P-450 beta NF-B and P-450 beta NF/ISF-G. Among the PBB congeners which were examined, the presence of bromine at carbons o to the biphenyl bridge favored the induction of P-450PB-B, P-450PB-C, P-450PG-D, and P-450PB/PCN-E but did not necessarily eliminate the ability to induce P-450 beta NF-B and P-450 beta NF-ISF-G. PBB congeners with 2,2'-dibromo substitution induced P-450 beta NF-B and P-450 beta NF/ISF-G if one of the biphenyl rings contained bromines at positions 2,3, and 4. The induction of P-450UT-F was found to occur to a small extent with three of the compounds and is not readily explained in terms of structure-activity relationships. Although correlations were found among levels of some of the forms of P-450, several important exceptions were noted in relative levels of the individual enzymes. While the correlative data are useful in predicting induction patterns, all eight forms of P-450 appear to be independently regulated to some extent.

R- and S-warfarin metabolite profiles (regio- and stereoselectivity) has been determined with hepatic microsomes from untreated rats and rats treated with nine individual polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) congeners, a commercial mixture of PBBs, and, for comparison with phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene. The metabolic rates have been correlated with cytochrome P-450 (P-450) isozyme concentrations in the microsomes determined by immunochemical quantitation techniques (G.A. Dannan, F.P. Guengerich, L.S. Kaminsky, and S.D. Aust, (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 1282-1288). The warfarin hydroxylase activities of the P-450 isozyme components of the various microsomal preparations (F.P. Guengerich, G.A. Dannan, S.T. Wright, M.V. Martin, and L.S. Kaminsky (1982) Biochemistry 21, 6019-6030) were multiplied by the corresponding isozyme concentrations to obtain an assessment of the potential warfarin hydroxylase capacity of the microsomes, and the results were compared with actual activities. The results of these studies and comparisons indicate that substrate regio- and stereoselectivities of microsomal-bound P-450s are essentially retained on purification of the isozymes to homogeneity and reconstitution, that warfarin metabolism by microsomal preparations can be used to predict microsomal P-450 isozyme compositions, and that microsomal warfarin hydroxylase activity is greater than would be predicted based on the approx 20:1 ratio of P-450 to NADPH-P-450 reductase in the microsomes and on the known activities of constituent isozymes. Two P-450 isozymes which are induced by treatment of rats with phenobarbital appear to be more tightly linked to NADPH-P-450 reductase than does an isozyme induced by beta-naphthoflavone.

Pathologic effects of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB), 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB, and a commercial mixture of polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) were compared in White leghorn cockerels. Diets containing 1, 10, or 100 ppm PBB, 4 or 10 ppm 2,3',4'4',5,5'-HBB, or 10 or 62 ppm 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB were fed for 28 days. Doses of 10 ppm of each chemical were used to provide a direct comparison of toxicity. Since nearly 4% of PBB consists of 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB and approximately 62% consists of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB, effects of doses of 4 and 62 ppm, respectively, were compared with effects of 100 ppm of PBB to determine if either of the congeners were mainly responsible for the pathologic effects caused by the mixture. Liver weights were increased in cockerels fed diets containing 62 ppm of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB or 10 or 100 ppm PBB. Hepatocytes were enlarged and vacuolated and lymphoid cells of the bursa of Fabricius were depleted by 10 ppm 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB, ppm 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB, and 10 or 100 ppm PBB. These dietary concentrations caused ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes consisting of vacuolation, increased smooth endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria, and disruption of mitochondrial cristae. When either of the congeners were given in concentrations relative to their concentrations in PBB, they were less toxic than the mixture. When concentrations in diets were equal, PBB caused more severe effects than 2,3',4,4',5,5'-HBB. The least effects were seen with 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HBB. Results indicate that the two congeners chosen for study are not individually as toxic as the parent mixture.

Some toxicological and pharmacological effects of 2,4,5,2',5'-penta- (congener 1), 2,3,4,2',4',5'-hexa- (congener 5), 2,4,5,3',4',5'-hexa- (congener 6), 2,3,4,5,3',4',-hexa- (congener 7), and 2,3,4,5,2',3',4'-heptabromobiphenyl (congener 9) were evaluated in male rats given a single 90 mg/kg ip injection and killed seven days later. Only congener 7 depressed body weight gain, spleen and thymus weights, and caused severe histopathological changes in the thymus. Congener 7 caused the largest increase in liver weight and the most changes in liver pathology while congener 1 failed to enlarge this organ and caused the mildest ultrastructural changes. Liver microsomes were isolated and evaluated for enzyme induction from all treated rats except those administered congener 6, which was previously identified as a mixed-type enzyme inducer (Dannan et al., 1978b). All congeners increased the liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content, but only congener 7 shifted the carbon monoxide difference spectrum absorption maximum to 448.0 nm. The microsomal ethyl isocyanide difference spectrum 455/430 nm ratio was increased the most by congener 7 (3 fold). All congeners increased cytochrome P-450 reductase and microsomal epoxide hydrase activities by nearly 1.5-3 fold. Congener 7 failed to induce aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity but the remaining congeners increased it by 2 fold. Congener 7 was the most effective inducer of benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase and p-nitrophenol UDP-glucuronyl transferase. These results add to the suggestion that the presence of an ortho halogen on a polyhalogenated biphenyl does not completely abolish toxicity or 3-methylcholanthrene-type microsomal enzyme induction.

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) cause a mixed-type (phenobarbital- plus 3-methylcholanthrene-like) induction of liver microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes in rats. However, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromobiphenyl and 2,2',3,4,4',5,5'-heptabromobiphenyl, which together comprise less than 80% of PBBs (FireMaster), were shown to be strictly phenobarbital-type inducers. Other components (unidentified) must therefore cause the 3-methylcholanthrene-like effects. The potential for PBBs to exert effects on neonates through milk was examined. Lactating rats were fed 0, 0.1, 1.0, or 10 ppm FireMaster for the 18 days following delivery, at which time mothers and most pups were sacrificed. Pups nursing from mothers fed 10 ppm PBBs showed significant increases in liver weights and microsomal protein, and both mothers and pups had increased cytochrome P-450, aminopyrine demethylation, benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation, and UDP-glucuronyltransferase. Pups nursing from rats fed 1.0 ppm had increases in microsomal protein, cytochrome P-450, aminopyrine demethylation, and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation, while their mothers were unaffected. Several pups from the 0, 0.1, and 1.0 ppm groups were maintained on their mother's diets, raised, and allowed to mate. Their pups showed much the same responses to PBBs as did the original group of pups. The effects on both generations of adult female rats were also comparable. PBBs cause a mixed-type induction in both lactating rats and their nursing pups; PBB components responsible for both aspects of this induction must be transmitted through milk. Nursing rats are approximately tenfold more sensitive to the effects of PBBs in their mother's diets than are the dams. The approximate no-effect level for microsomal induction in nursing rats is 0.1 ppm PBBs in the diet of the adult.

A commercial preparation of polybrominated biphenyls (Firemaster BP-6) was fractionated by preferential acetone solubilization and a number of PBB congeners were purified from the resulting fractions by repeated recrystallization, alumina adsorption column chromatography, and reversed-phase Lipidex-500 column chromatography. The applicability of reversed-phase Lipidex-5000 chromatography for the separation of highly structurally similar brominated biphenyl congeners that otherwise could not be separated by alumina chromatography or recrystallization was demonstrated. In total, seven congeners were purified, including one whose structure was assigned as 2,3,4,5,3',4'-hexabromobiphenyl.

The metabolism of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) was studied in vitro by using rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH and atmospheric O2. Quantitative recoveries of all PBBs were obtained after incubations with control or 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induced microsomes. Of the twelve major components, losses of only peaks 1 (2,4,5,2',5'-pentabromobiphenyl) and 3 (a hexabromobiphenyl) were observed following incubations with microsomes from phenobarbital (PB)- or PBBS- pretreated rats. Of seven structurally identified PBB components, only peak 1 has a bromine-free para position. Peaks 1, 2, and 5 all have two adjacent unsubstituted carbons, yet only peak 1 is metabolized. Of two dibromobiphenyl model compounds studied, the 2,2'-congener was very rapidly metabolized by PB-induced microsomes whereas its 4,4'-isomer was not. These results suggest that the presence of a free para position is required for the metabolism of brominated biphenyls. Of lesser importance appears to be the number of bromines or the availability of two adjacent unsubstituted carbons. In vivo evidence for the metabolism of peaks 1 and 3 was also provided by their drastically diminished levels in liver and milk extracts. When a 14C-PBB mixture consisting almost exclusively of peaks 4 (2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl) and 8 (2,3,4,5,2',4',5'-heptabromobiphenyl) was incubated with PB- or PBBs- induced microsomes and NADPH, only traces of radioactivity remained with the microsomes after extensive extraction. However, less radioactivity was bound to microsomes from MC pretreated or especially control rats. No radioactivity was bound to exogenous DNA included in similar microsomal incubations, regardless of the type of microsomes used. Under the same conditions, [3H]-benzo[a]pyrene metabolites were bound to DNA, and PBB-induced microsomes enhanced this binding more than six-fold.