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. 2003 Mar;111(3):329–334. doi: 10.1289/ehp.5723

Estrogenic activity of styrene oligomers after metabolic activation by rat liver microsomes.

Shigeyuki Kitamura 1, Motoko Ohmegi 1, Seigo Sanoh 1, Kazumi Sugihara 1, Shin'ichi Yoshihara 1, Nariaki Fujimoto 1, Shigeru Ohta 1
PMCID: PMC1241390  PMID: 12611662

Abstract

In this study we examined estrogenic activity of styrene oligomers after metabolic activation by rat liver microsomes. Trans-1,2-diphenylcyclobutane (TCB), cis-1,2-diphenylcyclobutane (CCB), 1,3-diphenylpropane, 2,4-diphenyl-1-butene, 2,4,6-triphenyl-1-hexene, and 1-alpha-phenyl-4ss-(1 -phenylethyl)tetralin were negative in the yeast estrogen screening assay and estrogen reporter assay using estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. However, TCB exhibited estrogenic activity after incubation with liver microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). Minor activity was observed when liver microsomes of untreated or 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats were used instead of those from phenobarbital-treated rats. CCB, 1,3-diphenylpropane, and 2,4-diphenyl-1-butene also exhibited estrogenic activity after metabolic activation by liver microsomes, but the activity was lower than that of TCB. 2,4,6-Triphenyl-1-hexene and 1-alpha-phenyl-4ss-(1 -phenylethyl)tetralin did not show estrogenic activity after such incubation. When TCB was incubated with liver microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats in the presence of NADPH, three metabolites were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). One metabolite isolated by HPLC exhibited a significant estrogenic activity. The active metabolite was identified as trans-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylcyclobutane by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analysis. These results suggest that the estrogenic activity of TCB was caused by the formation of the 4-hydroxylated metabolite.

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Selected References

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