Effects of inducers and/or inhibitors on metabolism of lysergic acid diethylamide in rat liver microsomes.

1. When lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was incubated with liver microsomes obtained from untreated rats, SKF 525-A inhibited most potently the hydroxylation at the 13-position, moderately inhibited N-demethylation at the 6-position, and least affected the metabolism of the side-chain at the 8 position. Furthermore, an atmosphere of 80% CO and 20% O2 (v/v) caused max. inhibition in N-demethylation, moderate inhibition in 13-hydroxylation, and the minimum in metabolism of the side-chain at the 8-position. These data suggested that the metabolism of LSD is catalysed by three separate enzyme systems. 2. The formation of 13-hydroxy-lysergic acid diethylamide (13-hydroxy-LSD) in liver microsomes obtained from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats was not inhibited by CO, although the hydroxylation required NADPH and oxygen. 3. The results of experiments using various inhibitors suggest that the 13-hydroxylation in liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats is catalysed by an enzyme system involving an unusual type of cytochrome P-448.