Interaction of endosulfan and dietary vitamin A on rat hepatic drug metabolising enzymes.

The effect of interaction of Endosulfan, a chlorinated insecticide of the cyclodiene group, with dietary vitamin A on the hepatic mixed function oxidase system in rats has been studied. Endosulfan administration (ten days) significantly increased microsomal protein content and cytochrome P-450 levels, NADPH cytochrome C-reductase aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities, with respect to control rats. Administration of vitamin A (10,000 I.U./100 g body weight) daily for ten days reduced the activity of the above mentioned enzymes, when vitamin A and endosulfan were given together, vitamin A reduced the endosulfan induced increase of microsomal proteins and cytochrome P-450 levels, the activity of NADPH cytochrome C-reductase, aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline-hydroxylase.