Comparison of detoxification enzyme mRNAS in woodrats (Neotoma lepida) and laboratory rats

To understand how mammalian herbivores process plant secondary compounds, we examined differences in expression of biotransformation enzyme mRNAs among populations of wild woodrats (Neotoma lepida) and laboratory rats. We compared expression of mRNAs for 10 biotransforming enzymes in five families (CYP, mEH, QOR, GST, and UGT) by using Northern blot analysis. We found significant differences in eight of 10 mRNAs tested. We suggest that the differences in mRNA expression among populations of woodrats and laboratory rats may be due to differences in the secondary compound composition of their diets. Our results provide background for future studies of detoxification strategies in mammalian herbivores that combine pharmacological techniques with an ecological perspective.