Effects of roxithromycin, a new semisynthetic macrolide, and two erythromycins on drug metabolizing enzymes in rat liver.

The effects of a new semisynthetic macrolide, roxithromycin, on drug metabolizing enzymes of rat liver were compared with two erythromycins, the base (EB) and the estolate (EE), after 7 days' treatment with high oral doses (400 and 800 mg/kg daily). Dose-related higher concentrations of roxithromycin were reached in serum and liver than after EB or EE. The two reference erythromycins induced the synthesis of microsomal enzymes and formed inactive cytochrome P-450-metabolite complexes. N-Demethylation of erythromycin itself and aminopyrine was increased by the treatment. Liver microsomal enzyme activities were not induced and the inactive cytochrome P-450-metabolite complex was not formed after 400 mg/kg of roxithromycin and only to a very limited extent after 800 mg/kg (10% vs. 50% after EE). At the higher dose microsomal activities were not changed by roxithromycin and only aminopyrine N-demethylation was reduced.