Endotoxin- and inflammation-induced depression of the hepatic drug metabolism in rats.

Carrageenan-induced inflammation and exposure to endotoxin considerably decreased the content of cytochrome P-450 and activities of ethylmorphine N-demethylase and meperidine N-demethylase, but did not decrease the activities of aniline hydroxylase or NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, compared with the respective activities in rats treated with carrageenan alone. These results suggest that under these experimental conditions, the two host-related environmental factors interact and enhance a decrease in rat hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes depending on the substrate used.