Genetic variation between mice in their metabolism of coumarin and its derivatives

Abstract

SUMMARY Adult females from 19 strains of mice were injected with either coumarin or 7-ethoxycoumarin and the urinary excretion of the umbelliferone produced by the metabolism of these substances was measured. With the exception of C57L the strains fell into three classes as follows: high metabolizers (DBA/1 and DBA/2), medium metabolizers (CBA, 129/Rr, NZB and NZW) and low metabolizers (the other 12 strains). The difference in metabolizing ability between the medium group and the low group of strains was also evident when the 4-methyl derivatives of the same two substances were used. However with the 4-methyl derivatives there was no difference in metabolizing ability between the medium group and the high group. The results are interpreted as evidence that the gene Coh on chromosome 7 comprises two closely linked genes which determine cytochrome P-450 isozymes with different substrate specificities.