Trauma of the upper third of the face. Management and follow-up

Of 407 patients with facial fractures who were operated on at the Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University Hospital, Nijmegen, over a 3-year period, 23 had a fracture in the nasofrontal region with or without extension to the base of the skull. The problems and results of the treatment of these fractures are presented, with special reference to the management of the frontal sinus lesions, the lacrimal system, and the reconstruction of the nasal skeleton and canthal attachments. The postoperative complications and sequellae are discussed. Most prominent features are ocular problems and unsatisfactory nasal contour. Conclusions which could contribute to the proper therapeutic management are drawn.

Inhibition of rat hepatic mixed function oxidases by antimalarial drugs: selectivity for cytochromes P-450 and P-448

Intraperitoneal administration of chloroquine, primaquine and quinacrine to rats resulted in inhibition of the hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidases. The N-demethylation of benzphetamine (cytochrome P-450) was inhibited by chloroquine only while the O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin (cytochrome P-448) was inhibited by primaquine and quinacrine. When incubated with hepatic microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats, chloroquine and primaquine, but not quinacrine, caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of benzphetamine N-demethylase activity. Incubation of hepatic microsomes from beta-naphthoflavone rats with primaquine and quinacrine, but not chloroquine, resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of the O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin. These observations demonstrate that chloroquine and quinacrine are specific inhibitors of cytochromes P-450 and P-448, respectively.

Polyadenylic acid polymerase activity in normal and leukemic human leukocytes

Soluble polyadenylic acid [poly(A)] polymerase and poly(A) nucleases content of normal human blood lymphocytes and leukemic blood cell populations was determined. Blood lymphocytes from seven normal individuals were used as controls. Leukemic cells were obtained from 69 patients with various types of acute and chronic leukemias. Chronic lymphocytic leukemias presented poly(A) polymerase values with a mean of 9 +/- 4 (S.D.). Although most of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases presented poly(A) polymerase activities similar to those of normal lymphocytes (3 +/- 3), a small number fell into the specific activity values of acute leukemias, which were significantly higher and covered a wider range. The mean values for acute myeloblastic, acute monoblastic, and acute lymphoblastic leukemias were 53 +/- 50, 21 +/- 8, and 29 +/- 14, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between chronic and acute leukemias (p less than 0.01). The observed differences in poly(A) polymerase levels of acute lymphoblastic leukemia versus chronic lymphocytic leukemia persisted after fractionation of the crude extracts and, furthermore, they could not be attributed to differences in the levels of poly(A)-degrading enzymes [poly(A) endo- and exonucleases]. Fractionation of leukemic extracts on Sephadex G-75 revealed two molecular forms of poly(A) polymerase activity.

A comparative study of the bioactivation of nitrosamines to mutagens by various animal species including man

Dimethylnitrosamine, dipropylnitrosamine, methylethylnitrosamine, nitrosopiperidine and nitrosopyrrolidine were assayed for mutagenicity in the Ames test in the presence of hepatic postmitochondrial preparations isolated from the mouse, rat, hamster, pig and man. Prior to each mutagenicity assay all activation systems were fully characterised with respect to monoamine oxidase, mixed-function amine oxidase and mixed-function oxidase activities. The hamster was the most efficient activator for all nitrosamines followed by the mouse. The latter species, however, activated nitrosopyrrolidine only weakly which was the only carcinogen readily activated by the human preparation. None of the aliphatic nitrosamines was activated by the rat or pig. No correlation was observed between efficiency of activation and any of the enzyme activities studied.

Determination of cytochrome P-448 activity in biological tissues

Three enzymes used for the determination of cytochrome P-448 activity, namely aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, biphenyl 2-hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylase, were evaluated with respect to their specificity, sensitivity and inducibility. Purified cytochrome P-448 (LM4), but not cytochrome P-450 (LM2), catalysed the O-de-ethylation of ethoxyresorufin in a reaction that was markedly inhibited by 9-hydroxyellipticine. After the administration of 3-methylcholanthrene to rats all three activities were induced, the extent of induction being highest for ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylase. Administration of very small doses of benzo[a]pyrene (50 micrograms/kg) to rats to induce cytochrome P-448 specifically increased only the O-de-ethylation of ethoxyresorufin. 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, the major metabolite determined by the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase assay, undergoes further NADPH-dependent oxygenation leading to loss of fluorescence. On the basis of these observations and those by other workers, we conclude that ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylase provides the most specific, sensitive and reproducible means of determining cytochrome P-448 activity.

Cytochrome P-448 and the activation of toxic chemicals and carcinogens

The metabolic activation of carcinogens and some toxic chemicals appears to involve oxygenation in conformationally hindered positions in the chemical molecules. Oxygenation of xenobiotics in hindered positions is effected by cytochrome P-448 (LM4) but not by cytochrome P-450 (LM2). Substrate-interaction spectra show that cytochrome P-448 has an active site with a conformation different from that of cytochrome P-450. Induction of cytochrome P-448, as specifically measured by ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, occurs in rat liver, kidney and lung after administration of the carcinogens, 3-methylcholanthrene, Aroclor 1254, 2-anthramine, safrole, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, MNNG and 2-acetamidofluorene. The doubtful carcinogens, saccharin, DDT and aldrin, resulted in no significant induction. The drugs paracetamol, antipyrine, imipramine and rifampicin resulted in diminished enzyme activity, indicating the absence of any induction of cytochrome P-448. In studies with the matched pairs of carcinogens and non-carcinogens, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[e]pyrene, and 1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene and anthracene, only the carcinogenic analogue resulted in induction of cytochrome P-448. With alpha- and beta-naphthylamine, both resulted in marked induction of cytochrome P-448 in liver, kidney and lung, indicating that both isomers might be carcinogenic.

Active metabolites in toxicology: the role of cytochrome P-448 and flavoprotein oxidases

The activation of toxic chemicals and carcinogens into reactive intermediates involves oxygenation in hindered positions of the molecule, by cytochrome P-448 (LM4), flavoprotein oxidoreductases, or transoxygenation during prostaglandin biosynthesis. Cytochrome P-450 (LM2) does not oxygenate in hindered positions and therefore generally detoxicates carcinogens and toxic chemicals. Cytochrome P-448 has a different active site from cytochrome P-450, which enables it to oxygenate substrates in conformationally-hindered positions.

Activation of aromatic amines to mutagens by various animal species including man

2-Acetylaminofluorene, 2-aminofluorene, 4-aminobiphenyl, 2-naphthylamine, 2-aminoanthracene and benzidine were assayed for mutagenicity in the Ames test in the presence of hepatic microsomal preparations derived from mouse, hamster, rat, pig and man. Prior to each mutagenicity assay all activation systems were fully characterized with respect to mono-oxygenase and mixed-function amine oxidase activities. All compounds were metabolically activated to mutagens by all activation systems, but with markedly different efficiencies, hamster being the only species which readily activated all amines. The hamster also exhibited the highest ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and dimethylaniline N-oxidase activities.

The role of highly purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes in the activation of 4-aminobiphenyl to mutagenic products in the Ames test

The role of cytochromes P-450 and P-447 in the activation of 4-aminobiphenyl to mutagens in the Ames test was studied using S9 preparations and highly purified isozymes. S9 preparations from beta-naphthoflavone-pretreated rats were more efficient in converting 4-aminobiphenyl to mutagens than the corresponding preparations from phenobarbitone-pretreated animals. Similarly, reconstituted systems comprising purified cytochrome P-447 were twice as efficient as cytochrome P-450 in activating the carcinogen. Of all the known Phase I metabolites of 4-aminobiphenyl, only the N-hydroxy-derivative was mutagenic in the Ames test. These findings indicate that arylamine N-hydroxylase is a cytochrome P-450 dependent enzyme, and the nature of the isozyme of the cytochrome is an important determinant of its mutagenicity.

A comparison of the protective effects of N-acetyl-cysteine and S-carboxymethylcysteine against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity

The protective effect of the sulphur-containing amino acids N-acetyl-cysteine and S-carboxymethylcysteine against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated in the hamster by biochemical and histological methods. Of the animals receiving paracetamol alone 25% died within 24 h following administration. All surviving animals showed acute hepatocellular injury and marked loss of cytochrome P-450 and hepatic mixed-function oxidase activities. Simultaneous administration of N-acetylcysteine decreased the mortality rate, partly prevented the paracetamol-induced liver damage and partly restored enzyme activities. Simultaneous administration of S-carboxymethylcysteine with paracetamol afforded no protection. Kidneys from all animals were histologically normal. Human liver microsomes and liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated hamsters metabolished paracetamol to intermediate(s) that bind covalently to microsomal proteins. The rate of covalent binding was inhibited markedly by N-acetylcysteine and to a lesser extent by S-carboxylmethylcysteine.

The mutagenic and cell transforming properties of shikimic acid and some of its bacterial and mammalian metabolites

Known and proposed metabolites of shikimic acid were synthesised, characterised and tested for genotoxic activity using the Salmonella/mammalian microsome mutagenicity test, the bacterial fluctuation mutagenicity test and the BHK 21 cell transformation test. Under the conditions used, none of these compounds showed any activity. However, shikimic acid itself was active in the BHK 21 cell transformation assay. It therefore seems unlikely that shikimic acid is a carcinogenic initiating agent, but it may act as a carcinogen-promoting agent in the bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum).

Effect of some beta-adrenergic blocking agents on tissue guanylate cyclase and cyclic nucleotides in the rat

Pretreatment of rats with the beta-adrenergic blocking agents, atenolol, practolol, pronethalol and propranolol, at a dosage of 150 mg/kg/day for 5 days, produced marked increases in guanylate cyclase activity in the liver, gastric and intestinal mucosae, but with concomitant decreases in cyclic GMP levels. The ratios of cAMP/cGMP in each of the tissues were not changed significantly from control values after pretreatment with these drugs. These observations indicate that any oncogenicity seen with beta-blocking agents is not due to the common pharmacological action of beta-adrenoreceptor blockade.

Acute toxicity of 3-deoxy-4-sulphohexosulose in rats and mice, and in vitro mutagenicity in the Ames test

3-Deoxy-4-sulphohexosulose (DSH) is formed in sulphited foods by the interaction of SO2 and intermediates of the Maillard reaction. The acute intragastric toxicity of DSH has been studied in rats and mice, and the LD50 was found to exceed 5 g/kg body weight in both species. The only adverse effect seen in a 14-day post-dosing period was a transient diarrhoea in the first 24 hr. DSH was shown to be non-mutagenic in four strains of Salmonella typhimurium in the Ames test, with and without metabolic activation by S-9 mix from Aroclor-treated rats.

The role of highly purified forms of rat liver cytochrome P-450 in the dimethylation of dimethylnitrosamine and its activation to mutagens

Highly purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and the major phenobarbital (PB) and beta-naphthoflavone (beta NF) forms of cytochrome P-450 were used in reconstituted systems to study the demethylation and subsequent activation of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) to mutagenic intermediates. Both forms of cytochrome P-450 were active in the demethylation of DMN, cytochrome P-450 from PB-treated animals being more efficient, generating nearly twice as much formaldehyde per nmol of haemoprotein. Neither form of the cytochrome could activate DMN to mutagens in the Ames test. These findings indicate that DMN demethylation does not lead to its activation to mutagenic products.

Studies on the possible mutagenicity of beta-adrenergic blocker drugs

The mutagenic potential of nine beta-adrenergic blocking agents was investigated in the Ames and micronucleus tests. None of the drugs studied showed any mutagenic response in the Ames test, either in the presence or in the absence of an activation system. At the highest concentration oxprenolol and propranolol exhibited a bactericidal effect. In the micronucleus test the same drugs showed a weak, but statistically non-significant response, but only at the highest doses. It is concluded that there is no overt mutagenic or carcinogenic potential associated with beta-adrenergic blocking drug activity.

Metabolic activation of paracetamol by highly purified forms of cytochrome P-450

The metabolic activation of paracetamol (acetaminophen) to reactive intermediate(s) which bind covalently to proteins was studied in reconstituted systems, employing highly purified preparations of cytochromes P-450 and P-448 isolated from the liver of rats pretreated with phenobarbitone and beta-naphthoflavone respectively. Cytochrome P-448 readily catalysed the activation of paracetamol, but in contrast no activation was observed when cytochrome P-450 was used at the same concentration. Addition of purified epoxide hydratase to the incubation system had no effect on the extent of covalent binding to proteins, indicating that an arene oxide is unlikely to be the reactive intermediate responsible for the paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity.

Apicoectomy on molars: a clinical and radiographical study

Apicoectomies on molars are not performed frequently, although their success rate can reach that obtained by apicoectomies on front teeth and premolars. 86 patients were operated on between January 1976 and December 1980 at St. Radboud Hospital. Clinical and radiological re-examination could be carried out on 70 of them. In 73% of the cases, healing was complete, in 21% incomplete, and in 6% the teeth were extracted. Certain factors which possibly influenced healing and the methods of root filling are discussed.

Species variation in the metabolic activation of paracetamol to toxic intermediates: role of cytochromes p-450 and p-448

The metabolic activation of paracetamol to reactive intermediate(s) covalently bound to microsomes was investigated using microsomal preparations from various laboratory animals and man. The hamster and mouse, in contrast to the rat, were good activators. Microsomal preparations from 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC)-induced hamsters were markedly more efficient in activating paracetamol than similar preparations from phenobarbital (PB)-induced animals. The activation of paracetamol by the 3MC-induced hamster preparations was inhibited by 9-hydroxyellipticine but not by metyrapone. These results indicate that hepatic cytochrome P-448 but not cytochrome P-450 can convert paracetamol to reactive intermediate(s) which bind covalently to microsomal proteins.

Effect of deuteration of imipramine on its pharmacokinetic properties in the rat

Imipramine was specifically deuterated in either both aromatic rings or in the N-methyl group, or in both positions, and the pharmacokinetic properties of the products were determined in the rat and compared with those of the non-deuterated analogue. Deuteration of imipramine resulted in a small but significant isotope effect on N-demethylation while aromatic hydroxylation was unaffected. This isotope effect led to a slower rate of systemic clearance, a longer half-life and, when orally administered, enhanced bioavailability. Urinary excretion of didesmethylimipramine-d4, following oral administration of imipramine-d7, was significantly lower than the excretion of didesmethylimipramine following administration of unlabelled imipramine, indicating inhibited demethylation. Similarly, the urinary excretion of desmethylimipramine-d4, didesmethylimipramine-d4 and 2-hydroxydesmethylimipramine-d4 were lower than for the corresponding unlabelled or d7-analogues, indicating the stability of the N-CD3 group. Deuteration had no effect on the pharmacological properties of imipramine as determined in this study.

Impairment of absorption of ascorbic acid following ingestion of aspirin in guinea pigs

A study was undertaken to investigate the interactions between aspirin and ascorbic acid in guinea pigs. Animals received by gastric intubation either a single dose of radiolabelled ascorbic acid alone or ascorbic acid with aspirin and the exhalation of CO2 was monitored for 400 min following administration. Animals receiving the vitamin only reached plasma peak levels within 90 min following administration while coadministration of the vitamin with aspirin, not only resulted in lower plasma peak levels, but also delayed their attainment until after 160 min. The bioavailability of ascorbic acid during the first 400 min was reduced by half following simultaneous administration of aspirin. The initial rate of exhalation of CO2 was decreased by 70% following coadministration of aspirin. These observations indicate that aspirin impairs the gastrointestinal absorption of ascorbic acid in guinea pigs, possibly by interfering with its active transport.

Selective inhibition of the safrole-induced mixed-function oxidase activities by 9-hydroxyellipticine

Intraperitoneal administration of 9-hydroxyellipticine, a specific cytochrome P-448 inhibitor, inhibited 3-methylcholanthrene-induced cytochrome P-448 activity (ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, biphenyl 2-hydroxylase) and formation of the safrole carbene ligand complex with this cytochrome, but did not inhibit phenobarbital-induced cytochrome P-450 activity (ethyl-morphine N-demethylase) or formation of the safrole carbene ligand complex with this cytochrome. Biphenyl displaced the 9-hydroxyellipticine ligand from cytochrome P-448 leading to increased free cytochrome, but with no corresponding increase in mixed-function oxidase activity when biphenyl was used as substrate. It is concluded that following dissociation of the ligand complex, 9-hydroxyellipticine, which also exhibits type I binding, competes with biphenyl for the substrate binding site. Administration of 9-hydroxyellipticine to safrole-pretreated rats inhibited the cytochrome P-448-catalysed activity, but had no effect on the cytochrome P-450-catalysed activity. These results indicate that safrole induces a mixture of cytochromes P-450 and P-448 rather than a single novel haemo-protein. The type I substrate biphenyl displaced both the safrole carbene and the 9-hydroxyellipticine ligands from cytochrome P-448 resulting in increased free cytochrome. Displacement of the safrole carbene ligand was accompanied by increased mixed-function oxidase activity but, in contrast, displacement of the 9-hydroxyellipticine ligand resulted in no increase in mixed-function oxidase activity.

Studies on the substrate-binding sites of liver microsomal cytochrome P-448

The interaction of substrates of the microsomal mixed-function oxidases with cytochromes P-450 and P-448 was investigated by using liver microsomes from rats pretreated with phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene, and with purified forms of the cytochromes isolated from rabbit liver. The two forms of the cytochrome have different substrate specificities; cytochrome P-450 has one type 1 substrate-binding site that can accommodate a large variety of substrates, but in contrast cytochrome P-448 may possess two type 1 substrate-binding sites, one of which is different to that of cytochrome P-450 in that it shows a specificity for substrates such as safrole and 9-hydroxy-ellipticine. These findings explain why the two forms of the cytochrome have different substrate specificities and play contrasting roles in the activation and deactivation of xenobiotics.

Elimination of glyceryl trinitrate: effects of sex, age, species and route of administration

1 Orally administered glyceryl trinitrate to rats undergoes extensive first pass metabolism leading to low bioavailability. 2 Sex differences in the plasma elimination of glyceryl trinitrate were seen in the rat, the female exhibiting the longer plasma half-life. No sex differences in this respect were detected in the rabbit. 3 The plasma half-life of glyceryl trinitrate was longer and the volume of distribution larger, in older animals. 4 The plasma elimination of glyceryl trinitrate was different in various animal species. There was a good correlation between plasma half-life and animal bodyweight.

Inhibition of gastrointestinal mucosal glycoprotein synthesis by the beta-adrenergic blocking drug, practolol

The effect of administration of practolol and other beta-blocking agents on gastrointestinal mucosal glycoprotein synthesis was studied in the rat. Practolol, at a dose of 50 mg/kg, inhibited the incorporation of N-acetylglycosamine into gastric mucosal glycoproteins, while acebutolol, atenolol, pronethalol and propranolol had no inhibitory effect, even at a dose of 200 mg/kg. In addition, practolol inhibited the incorporation of N-acetylneuraminic acid, D-fucose and L-serine into gastric mucosal glycoproteins, while the other beta-blocking agents had no effect. Administration of practolol caused no significant change in the rate of incorporation of glycoprotein precursors into intestinal mucosal glycoproteins. These results indicate that of the beta-blocking drugs studied, inhibition of glycoprotein synthesis is associated only with practolol and is independent of its beta-blocking effect.

Metabolic activation of dimethylnitrosamine to mutagens: role of cytochromes P-450 and P-448

Pretreatment of hamsters with phenobarbitone, 3-methylcholanthrene and Arochlor 1254 induced the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidases, yet decrease the efficiency of activation of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) to intermediates mutagenic to the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA-100. Furthermore, no correlation was obtained between cytochrome P-450 content, microsomal demethylation of DMN and its activation to mutagens. These results indicate that the demethylation of DMN by the mixed-function oxidases is not the rate-limiting step in the metabolic activation of the carcinogen to mutagen(s), and that other microsomal or soluble enzymes may be involved.

The mutagenicity of 9-hydroxyellipticine and its induction of cytochrome P-448 activity in rat liver microsomes

Administration of a single dose of the inhibitor of the hepatic mixed function oxidases, 9-hydroxyellipticine (9-OHE), resulted in a marked increase in the cytochrome P-448 catalysed activities of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, biphenyl 2-hydroxylase and activation of benzo[a]pyrene to mutagens. In contrast there was no effect on the cytochrome P-450 catalysed benzphetamine N-demethylase activity. The inductive effect was prevented by simultaneous administration of the protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide and actinomycin D. It is concluded that 9-OHE may also act as an inducer of the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidases, selectively inducing the synthesis of cytochrome P-448. Therefore, 9-OHE, like other inhibitors of this enzyme system, exhibits a biphasic effect, its inhibitory phase being followed by one of enzyme induction. 9-OHE was a direct mutagen in the Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100.

Activation of benzo(a)pyrene and 2-acetamidofluorene to mutagens by microsomal preparations from different animal species: role of cytochrome P-450 and P-448

1. The metabolic activation of benzo(a)pyrene and 2-acetamidofluorene to mutagens was studied with liver microsomal preparations from rat, guinea-pig, hamster and mouse, untreated or pretreated with phenobarbitone or 3-methylcholanthrene. 2. Liver microsomal preparations from all animal species activated benzo(a)pyrene, that from mouse being the most efficient. Similarly, microsomal preparations from guinea-pig, hamster and mouse could activate 2-acetamidofluorene, but that from rat exhibited very weak activity. 3. Activation of benzo(a)pyrene into mutagenic intermediates by liver microsomal preparations was increased for all animals except mouse by pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene. In contrast, pretreatment with phenobarbitone decreased the activation by microsomal preparations from all species. 4. Activation of 2-acetamidofluorene by liver microsomal preparations from rat and guinea-pig, but not mouse and hamster, was increased by pretreatment of the animals with phenobarbitone. Pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene decreased the activation of this carcinogen by microsomal preparations from all species. 5. The metabolic activation of benzo(a)pyrene is catalysed by cytochrome P-448 but not cytochrome P-450. 6. The activation of 2-acetamidofluorene to mutagens may involve, in addition to the mixed-function oxidases, other microsomal enzyme systems.

Inhibition of cytochrome P-448 mixed function oxidase activity following administration of 9-hydroxyellipticine to rats

The in vitro inhibitor of mixed-function oxidation, 9-hydroxyellipticine, non-competitively inhibited the binding of the type II substrate, aniline, to cytochrome P-448 of hepatic microsomal preparations from rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene. In contrast, 9-hydroxyellipticine did not inhibit the binding of aniline to cytochrome P-450 of hepatic microsomal preparations from rats pretreated with phenobarbitone, nor did it inhibit the binding of the type I substrate, hexobarbitone to either cytochrome P-450 or cytochrome P-448. Following the pretreatment of rats intraperitoneally with 9-hydroxyellipticine and phenobarbitone, the cytochrome P-448-specific enzyme activity, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, was 50% inhibited in vitro but cytochrome P-450, cytochrome P-450 reductase, and other mixed function oxidase activities were unaffected. With rats pretreated with 9-hydroxyellipticine and 3-methylcholanthrene, inhibition of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase was 90%, and cytochrome P-450/P-448, cytochrome P-450 reductase, biphenyl 2- and 4-hydroxylase were inhibited by 30, 15, 50 and 40% respectively. It is concluded that 9-hydroxyellipticine administered in vivo markedly inhibits mixed-function oxidations which are specific to cytochrome P-448, but has no effect on cytochrome P-450-catalysed microsomal oxidation.

Ligand binding of safrole to cytochrome P-450

Safrole, a hepatocarcinogen, is converted by the microsomal mono-oxygenase system to a reactive intermediate which interacts with cytochrome P-450 to form a ligand complex. The formation of this complex is accompanied by loss of mono-oxygenase activity. The present study describes the interaction of the safrole reactive intermediate with microsomes from phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene and safrole pretreated animals.

Effect of diet on the metabolism and toxicology of drugs

The human organism is continuously exposed to a variety of xenobiotics, as drugs, pesticides, food additives and many environmental contaminants, all of which are potentially toxic. The body metabolizes these highly reactive chemicals to pharmacologically-inert compounds, which are readily eliminated from the body. This process of deactivation is dependent on nutritional status. Malnutrition, almost invariably, leads to a reduced capacity to deactivate these exogenous materials with consequent increase in toxicity.

The effect of allyl compounds on hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidation and porphyrogenesis

The activities of 5-aminolaevulinate (5-ALA) synthetase and of various microsomat drug-metabolising enzymes have been determined in the livers of rats pretreated with different drugs and chemicals containing the allyl group. Safrole, isosafrole and secobarbital gave rise to slight increases in 5-ALA synthetase, whereas alclophenac and triallyl cyanurate almost doubled the enzyme activity and the known porphyrogenic agents, allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) and allobarbital caused increases of 1.5- and 2.5-fold, respectively. Allobarbital induced the microsomal drug-metabolising enzymes while secobarbital had only a weak effect and alclophenac and triallyl cyanurate had no effect at all. From these results it is suggested that induction of the synthesis of cytochrome P-450 is not rate dependent on the synthesis haem and induction of porphyrin biosynthesis.

Enhancement of hepatic microsomal drug metabolism in vitro following ethanol administration

1. Administration of ethanol intraperitoneally at low dosages (10-25 mg/kg) to rats stimulates hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity in vitro. 2. Pretreatment with ethanol administered orally has no effect on in vivo drug metabolism as measured by pentobarbitone plasma half-life and has no effect on the excretion of ascorbic acid. Ethanol administration does not enhance its own binding to cytochrome P-450. 3. These observations suggest that the administration of ethanol, at moderate dosage, does not give rise to induction of hepatic cytochrome P-450. 4. Unwashed hepatic microsomes are contaminated with alcohol dehydrogenase, but pretreatment with ethanol does not increase microsomal generation of NADH. 5. Pretreatment with ethanol has no stimulatory effect on NADH-NADP+ transhydrogenation. 6. The stimulation of hepatic drug metabolism in vitro following administration of ethanol is not due to increased cytochrome P-450 nor to increased NADPH, per se, but appears to result from an increase in the activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase.

Mechanism of induction of hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes by a series of barbiturates

The inducing effect of certain barbiturates (secobarbitone, thiopentone, pentobarbitone, allobarbitone, phenobarbitone and barbitone) on the levels of the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes has been studied in the rat both in vivo and in vitro. The extent of induction was related to the plasma half-lives of the barbiturates; compounds with low rates of metabolism and long half-lives were the most potent inducing agents. The latter (phenobarbitone, pentobarbitone and allobarbitone) were shown by spectral technique to interact with cytochrome P-450 suggesting that their mechanism of enzyme induction was 'substrate induction' in type. Barbiturates containing an allyl group (secobarbitone and allobarbitone) had a weaker inducing effect than expected, possibly due to their destruction of cytochrome P-450. Despite its short plasma half-life of 0-5 h thiopentone was a relatively potent inducer probably due to its metabolism to pentobarbitone, which has a much longer plasma half-life (1-3 h). Barbitone is an effective inducer of the drug-metabolizing enzymes, yet does not interact spectrally with cytochrome P-450; this is in accord with the observations that although there are increases in NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome b5, following administration of barbitone there is no increase in cytochrome P-450. Barbiturate pretreatment does not affect the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase.