Liver changes induced in the hamster by steroids.

Groups of mature female Syrian golden hamsters were injected s.c. with peanut oil solutions of estradiol benzoate and progesterone at daily dosages of 10 micrograms and 20 mg, respectively, the controls receiving the vehicle. The male series comprised controls and estrogen-treated. A portion of each group was injected i.p. with phenobarbital at 80 mg/kg daily for the last 3 days and all animals were sacrificed on day 10. Hepatic microsomal total protein, cytochrome P-450 and enzymes, aminopyrine demethylase and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase of the steroid-injected groups revealed no definite changes over the controls except for an increase in the hydroxylase activity with the progesterone group. In general, cytochrome P-450 and the enzyme activities were significantly elevated on comparison of the phenobarbital-injected groups versus the uninduced controls. Inter-group comparisons of the phenobarbital-injected females revealed no remarkable changes over the respective controls, but with the males, the hydroxylase activity of the estrogen-treated group was markedly elevated. In contrast to the rat, the hamsters injected with estrogen at the specified dosage, underwent no significant change in the liver weight percentages. However, liver enlargement occurred with progesterone as such or on phenobarbital treatment in comparison with the corresponding control groups.