Inhibition of enzymes of drug metabolism in rat liver by ultrasound and correction by heparin

Abstract

After 6 days following the local effect (during operation) of ultrasound (2 Wt/cm2, 1 min) the microsomal fraction showed decreased total content of cytochromes P-450 (P-450), rate of NADPH oxidation, activity of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and P450 IIE1 (aniline as substrate) by 40, 28, 16 and 42 %, respectively. In addition, after 12 days the activities of P450 IIIA1 (ethylmorphine as substrate) and cytosolic sulphobromophthalein glutathione transferase (SBPh-GT) were decreased by 59 and 26 %. The administration of heparin (intramuscularly, 250 ED/kg, in a day, 3 and 6 times) exerted a normalizing effect. The P450 concentration, NADPH oxidation rate and P450 IIB1 activity (amidopyrine as substrate), IIE1 and IIIA1, SBPh-GT and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene-GT in microsomes and cytosol exceeded the corresponding values in untreated animals by 31, 40, 68, 224, 68, 42, 24 and 36 %. The administration of heparin to control animals (intramuscularly, 250 and 500 mg/kg, in a day, 5 times) essentially unaffected both the monooxygenase, glucuro- and glutathione-conjugating systems and the elimination of antipyrine (substrate of preferably P-450 IA2) and SBPh (substrate of GT) from rat blood plasma. The experimental results provide evidence for a possible role of endogenous heparin in maintaing the optimal level of the activities of the enzyme systems of xenobiotics microsomal oxidation and conjugation in liver injury. One of the most important functions of the liver is its ability to execute biotransformation of a wide range of xenobiotics and some endogenous substances [1]. The activities of the enzyme systems catalyzing these reactions are under a sophisticated regulatory control. Among the natural factors capable of changing the function of enzymes involved in the xenobiotic biotransformation are vitamins [2], phospholipids [3], hormones [4] and many others. We studied the effect of heparin on the activities of the monooxygenase, glucuro- and glutathione transferase systems of the intact and ultrasound-treated rat liver. The significance of this study consists in the elucidation of a putative participation of heparin in the control of the activities of the enzyme system of xenobiotic biotransformation in the intact liver and under membranous pathology of the organ.