The effect of hypolipidemic agents on the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme system of the rat. Induction of cytochrome(s) P-450 with specificity toward terminal hydroxylation of lauric acid.

The effect of chronic dietary administration of the hypolipidemic agents, clofibrate, methylclofenapate, fenofibrate, and tibric acid, on the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme system of the albino rat has been studied. Each compound caused dose-dependent increase in liver size and cytochrome P-450 (methylclofenapate = fenofibrate = tibric acid greater than clofibrate). NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity was increased only after clofibrate and methylclofenapate treatment. There was no overall increase in the metabolism of a number of commonly used model substrates in parallel with the cytochrome P-450 induction. Aminopyrine and ethoxyresorufin dealkylation, biphenyl 4-hydroxylation, testosterone 16 alpha-hydroxylation, and o-aminophenol and chloramphenicol glucuronidation showed no change or inhibition, whereas ethoxycoumarin and phenacetin dealkylation and testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation were increased (only up to 2-fold). Using clofibrate as a representative of this class of pharmacological agent, the enzymatic changes were essentially reversed within 6 days after removal of drug from the diet. Clofibrate administration also increased liver size and, to a lesser extent, hepatic cytochrome P-450 content in the albino (CD-1) mouse but had no effect in the marmoset monkey. In the rat, clofibrate administration specifically increased the hepatic microsomal omega-hydroxylation of lauric acid approximately 28-fold, which contrasted with the specific increase in (omega - 1)-hydroxylation caused by phenobarbital administration. The specific increase in microsomal cytochrome P-450-mediated omega-oxidation of a medium length, straight chain, saturated fatty acid is similar to the documented increase in peroxisomal and mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation caused by administration of hypolipidemic agents.