Immunochemical detection of cytochrome P450 enzymes in small intestine microsomes of male and female untreated juvenile cynomolgus monkeys

The expression of small intestinal cytochromes P450 (P450s) has not been systematically measured in cynomolgus monkeys, which are widely used in preclinical drug studies to predict pharmacokinetics and toxicity in humans: therefore, P450 content of small intestine was quantified in 35 cynomolgus monkeys by immunoblotting using 11 selective antibodies. CYP2D, CYP2J2, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 were detected in all 35 animals, while CYP1A and CYP2C9/19 were detected in 31 and 17 animals, respectively. CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 were detected with the same antibody. CYP1D, CYP2A, CYP2B6, CYP2C76 and CYP2E1 were not detected in any of the 35 animals examined. On analysis of pooled microsomes (35 animals), CYP3A (3A4+3A5) was most abundant (79% of total immunoquantified CYP1-3 proteins), followed by CYP2J2 (13%), CYP2C9/19 (4%), CYP1A (3%) and CYP2D (0.4%). On the analysis of individual microsome samples, each P450 content varied 2-to-6-fold between animals, and no sex differences were observed in any P450 content. These findings should help to increase the understanding of drug metabolism, especially the first-pass effect, in cynomolgus monkey small intestines.