The immature rat as a potential model for chemical risks to children: Ontogeny of selected hepatic P450s.

Concern about potential susceptibilities of infants and children to chemicals has led to the consideration of immature rodents as potential test surrogates. Maturation of some hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450s (CYPs), that participate in metabolic activation of organic solvents and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), may differ significantly between humans and rodents. The present investigation was undertaken to delineate the ontogeny of selected hepatic CYPs in male and female Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats, and to contrast them with developmental profiles in humans.