Sex differences in hepatic cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase activities in rainbow trout during an annual reproductive cycle

Hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase activities were investigated in rainbow trout during an annual reproductive cycle. The fish were kept in tanks supplied with fresh water at a constant temperature of 10 degrees C. The daily light and darkness cycle was adjusted to follow the natural photoperiod. Sampling was performed once every month for 1 year. Higher benzo(a)pyrene-hydroxylase (or aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase; AHH), ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) and ethylmorphine-N-demethylase (END) activities and cytochrome P-450 content were found during the late stage of sexual development in rainbow trout. When monooxygenase activities were expressed on a per cytochrome P-450 basis, sex-dependent differences were observed only for AHH and ECOD activities. It was thus found that sex-dependent variations of END were closely correlated with the total amount of cytochrome P-450. The results indicate that differences exist in hepatic cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme patterns between the sexes in rainbow trout. The similarity of the annual pattern of plasma levels of oestradiol and testosterone to that of sex-dependent differences in the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases support the contention that sex steroids play a role in regulating the cytochrome P-450 system.