There are myriads of odorous molecules that we perceive and it is remarkable that most of us seem to have very similar odor impressions that originate from a specific stimulus and the sense of smell appears to be robust during much of a lifetime. When perceiving scents, olfactory receptor (OR) proteins are at work to translate chemical information into neuronal signals that are decoded in the o...

In addition to being causally linked to the formation of multiple tumor types, tobacco use has been associated with decreased efficacy of anticancer treatment and reduced survival time. A detailed understanding of the cellular mechanisms that are affected by tobacco smoke (TS) should facilitate the development of improved preventive and therapeutic strategies. We have investigated the effects o...

Attempts were made to examine the effect of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSP) on hepatic xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) of tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes). Two groups of nontoxic tiger fish were analyzed, and one group was fed with a PSP-containing diet (PSP group), and another with a PSP-free diet (control group). After 60 days of feeding, they were compared to each other mai...

Xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P-450 (P-450) enzymes not only play a pivotal role in elimination of foreign compounds but also contribute to generation of toxic intermediates, including reactive oxygen species, that may elicit cellular damage if produced excessively. Expression of several xenobiotic-metabolizing P-450 enzymes is induced by phenobarbital (PB). Pronounced induction is observe...

Enzymes of the nasal tissue, one of the first tissues to contact inhaled toxicants, are relatively resistant to induction by traditional inducers. Because tobacco smoke has been shown to induce cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) in rat and human lung tissue, we hypothesized that it would also alter levels of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in nasal mucosae. In the present study, the effect of mainstr...