[Effect of dietary iron deficiency on the activity of the monooxygenase system of rat liver microsomes and its induction by phenobarbital].

Male Wistar rats kept on the iron-deficient diet for 7-71/2 weeks showed an increase in the content of cytochromes P450 and b5 in liver microsomes that was accompanied by the elevated rate of N-demethylation of amidopyrin and dimethylalanine (type I substrates), and by that of p-hydroxylation of aniline (type II substrate). The changes described wee observed in the presence of a 20-25% reduction in the hemoglobin content in the blood of experimental animals. Administration to rats of phenobarbital (100 mg per kg mass daily for 3 days) caused an induction of the monooxygenase system of the liver endoplasmic reticulum. However under the conditions of iron deficiency in the diet the degree of cytochrome P450 induction and that of the reaction rate of N-demethylation in microsomes were slightly less than under the full-value diet.