Induction of hepatic cytochrome P-450 and drug metabolism by doxapram in the mouse.

The ability of doxapram (20 mg/kg, i.p. daily for 5 days) to induce hepatic cytochrome P-450 and xenobiotic metabolism was examined in male mice. Compared with the control values, the doxapram treatment significantly increased the amount of cytochrome P-450, and activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase, ethylmorphine N-demethylase and meperidine N-demethylase. In contrast, there were no changes in the activities of aniline hydroxylase, 7-ethoxycoumarine deethylase, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and NADH-ferricyanide reductase, and cytochrome b5 content. These data show that there is a substrate specificity in the ability of doxapram to induce the hepatic drug metabolism in male mice.