Inhibition of hepatic drug biotransformation by carrageenan-induced inflammation in the rat: effect of sex hormone alterations.

Following in vivo treatment with carrageenan, sex-related differences in alteration of hepatic drug metabolism were found in the rat. In adult male rats, marked decreases were observed in hepatic 9000 x g supernatant cytochrome P-450 content and in the biotransformation of hexobarbital, aminopyrine, ethylmorphine, and meperidine. Hexobarbital hypnosis was significantly prolonged by carrageenan treatment in intact and testectomized animals as compared to their respective controls. Although carrageenan-treated intact animals slept 480% longer, carrageenan-treated testectomized rats slept only 60% longer than the respective control animals. However, testectomy or administration of 17 beta-estradiol to testectomized male rats did not inhibit the monooxygenase activities by carrageenan-treatment. Furthermore, administration of testosterone to ovariectomized female rats did not antagonize the inhibitory effects of the carrageenan-induced inflammation. The inhibitory effects produced by carrageenan-induced inflammation on the microsomal enzyme system were observed only in mature male rats and were not observed in mature female rats or in sexually immature rats of either sex. Thus, these results suggest that the inhibitory effects of carrageenan-induced inflammation on hepatic 9000 x g supernatant monooxygenases in the male rat are partially mediated through the toxic action of carrageenan-induced inflammation on androgen-dependent factors in this enzyme system.