Hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activities and anti-inflammatory potency of hydrocortisone in rats with granulomatous inflammation.

Experimental granuloma pouches were induced in the dorsum of Sprague-Dawley rats by the subcutaneous injection of either carrageenin or agar. In the former inflammation model, the hepatic activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase and the contents of cytochromes P-450 and b5 were reduced significantly from control and pentobarbital sleeping time was prolonged. Hydrocortisone inhibited significantly the increased vascular permeability, exudation and proliferation of the carrageenin-induced granuloma in the daily, oral dose of 10 mg/kg for 3 days. On the other hand, the animals with agar granuloma pouch did not show any decline of the hepatic drug metabolism and a same dosage level of hydrocortisone showed substantially no inhibitory effect on the agar granuloma. Consequently, it is suggested that impairment of the hepatic drug metabolism may be responsible for the increased potency of hydrocortisone in the carrageenin-induced granuloma.