The metabolism of drugs in isolated rat hepatocytes. A comparison with in vivo drug metabolism and drug metabolism in subcellular liver fractions.

The metabolism of drugs in isolated rat hepatocytes has been investigated. Drugs which are metabolized by aromatic hydrolation, aliphatic hydroylation, N-demethylation, or glucuronidation have been used as substrates. With some substrates the rate of metabolism in isolated hepatocytes compares with that in hepatic 900g supernatant fraction or microsomes, but other substrates are metabolized at a slower rate in isolated hepatocytes. For example, the rate of butamoxane hydroxylation in isolated hepatocytes is slower than that in microsomes. However, the rate of hydroxylation is hepatocytes is identical to that in perfused liver. The metabolism of drugs in isolated hepatocytes correlates with in vivo drug metabolism better than does metabolism in the hepatic 9000g supernatant fraction or microsomes.