Paracetamol hepatotoxicity and microsomal function.

The effect of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats (650 mg/kg) on microsomal function was examined. Paracetamol treatment resulted in lowered Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in the microsomes with decrease in V(max) of the low affinity high V(max) component II. However, the temperature kinetics was not influenced significantly. The total phospholipid and cholesterol contents as well as lipid peroxidation in the microsomes were unchanged. However, content of acidic phospholipids: phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol decreased by 50% with a reciprocal increase in the sphingomyelin content; the lysophosphoglyceride content increased by 12-fold. The microsomal membrane appeared to be more fluidized following paracetamol treatment. Paracetamol treatment also resulted in a significant reduction in the sulfhydryl groups content.