Mixed function oxidase and ethanol metabolism in perfused rat liver.

Oxidation-reduction changes of cytochrome P-450 and oxygen consumption were measured in isolated perfused livers from normal and phenobarbital-treated rats. Phenobarbital treatment markedly increased the aminopyrine-induced reduction of cytochrome P-450, but ethanol did not cause any redox changes of this cytochrome. It was concluded that the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system has an insignificant role in the metabolism of ethanol in intact liver.