The metabolism of drugs by hepatic microsomal enzymes. Studies on intramicrosomal distribution of enzymes and relationships between enzyme activity and structure of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum

Alterations in hepatic fine structure after chronic exposure of rats to dexamethasone

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of chronic dexamethasone (DEX) administration on hepatic ultrastructure and to correlate these changes with plasma lipoprotein levels. Electron microscopic studies were made of hepatocytes from male rats killed 1, 3 and 5 days after DEX (2 mg, twice per day) administration. Three days after treatment plasma lipoprotein levels were highest and hepatocytes contained regions of the cytosome rich in elements of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). Osmiophilic particles were present in the tubules and vesicles of the SER, in the saccules and vacuoles of the Golgi complex, in secretory vesicles near the cell surface and in the space of Disse. DEX treatments also caused hepatocytes to accumulate tightly packed masses of beta-particles of glycogen in some regions of the cell while other areas displayed dispersed glycogen particles that were associated with the SER. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that glucocorticoids 1. cause an elevation of plasma lipoprotein levels by increasing hepatic synthesis and secretion of VLDL, which involves the sequential participation of the ER, the Golgi complex and exocytosis of VLDL-containing vacuoles into the space of Disse, and 2. produce a change in the nature of the association of glycogen particles with the SER membranes in response to the physiological state of the animal.

The submicrosomal distribution of hepatic uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferases in the rabbit

1. Rabbit liver microsomes were subfractionated into rough- and smooth-surfaced types, and glucuronyltransferase activity in each microsomal subfraction was determined with p-nitrophenol, o-aminophenol and phenolphthalein as substrates. The glucuronyltransferase activity measured with p-nitrophenol and o-aminophenol as substrates was localized predominantly in rough-surfaced microsomes. Glucuronyltransferase measured with phenolphthalein as substrate was equally present in rough- and smooth-surfaced microsomes. 2. Phenobarbital pretreatment of rabbits did not stimulate any of the glucuronyltransferase activities measured in either rough- or smooth-surfaced microsomes. 3. Preincubation of rabbit liver microsomes for 30-60min. at 37 degrees under oxygen did not cause any loss of glucuronyltransferase activity. Such preincubation caused either no change or increased enzyme activity in both submicrosomal fractions. The relative distribution of transferase activity in rough- and smooth-surfaced microsomes was not affected by preincubation.