Tissue distribution of CYP3A29 mRNA expression in Bama miniature pig by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Abstract

1. Pig or minipig cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A isozymes have been proven to be a good model of human drug metabolism, and human CYP3A seems to be well modelled by pig or minipig CYP3A29.

2. We studied CYP3A29 mRNA expression in ten tissues (liver, duodenum, kidney, adrenal gland, skin, brain, lung, testis, uterus and ovary) in different age groups of Bama miniature pig by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

3. In adult pig (4 and 6 months old), the most relative expression by normalization to β-actin of CYP3A29 mRNAs of tissues is in liver; then in duodenum, skin and kidney. Values of CYP3A29 in the extrahepatic tissues except for duodenum are very low compared with that in liver.

4. In new-borns the mean CYP3A29 expression in duodenum was higher than that in liver, and the expression in skin was very low while high in 40 days, 4 months and 6 months age groups. For different ages, the increased CYP3A29 expression in liver and duodenum was detected with age. The effective CYP3A29 induction in liver was also detected by rifampin oral intubation. Apparent interindividual variability of CYP3A29 mRNA expression in Bama miniature pigs was detected.

5. This work will broaden the understanding of the physiological functions of CYP3A29 in miniature pig, and promote Bama miniature pig’s application in pharmacological and toxicological studies.

Keywords::

• Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A29
• Bama miniature pig
• tissue distribution
• real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Acknowledgements

This project was sponsored by Key Technologies R&D Program of China (Grant Numbers 2004BA717B-03 and 2006BAK02A03), the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (Grant Numbers 2006AA02A121 and 2007AA10Z356), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Number 2007CB513007), and a grant from Zongshen Yida Biotechnology Co., Ltd.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.