Effects of rifampin pretreatment on hepatic parameters in the rabbit.

Rifampin pretreatment in the rabbit caused a selective induction of hepatic parameters resembling in some respects phenobarbital induction. Concomitant with induction, a transient selective inhibition of hepatic parameters was also observed. This two-fold effect of rifampin offers an explanation for the discrepancy surrounding the dosage and species differences in hepatic induction reported in the literature.