Decrease in the content of cytochrome P450IIE by fasting in liver microsomes of house musk shrew (Suncus murinus).

The effects of fasting on hepatic cytochrome P450 in the mature male house musk shrew, Suncus murinus (suncus), were studied by Western blot analyses and enzyme assays. The content of P450IIE protein was decreased, by fasting, to 24% of the control level in contrast to the results with rats, in which P450IIE protein was increased to 172% by fasting. These changes reflected on catalytic activities, such as aniline hydroxylase and N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase activities, which were decreased to about 45% and 28%, respectively, of the control levels by fasting, while in fasting rats, the catalytic activities of these enzymes were 2-3-fold higher than in controls.