Accentuation of white phosphorus induced fatty liver by phenobarbitone in male rats compared to female rats.

The possible influence of a potent enzyme inducer, phenobarbitone, on white phosphorus fatty liver, was studied. Pretreatment by phenobarbitone for four days in white phosphorus poisoned rats provoked a decrease in mortality and an increase in hepatic triglycerides (fatty liver) in male rats. The activity of uridine diphosphoglucuronyl transferase (UDPGT), an inducible enzyme, is not modified by this pretreatment in white phosphorus poisoned rats. The accentuation of white phosphorus fatty liver by phenobarbitone in male rats could be explained by an increased hydroxylation of testosterone, thus counteracting the protective effect of this hormone on fatty liver.