Activities of mixed function oxidases, UDP-glucuronyl transferase and sulphate conjugation enzymes in galliformes and anseriformes.

The activities of certain drug metabolizing enzymes have been measured in liver and kidney slice preparations from domesticated birds. Aminopyrine demethylase activity was significantly lower in liver slices from the duck (Aylesbury X Pekin, Khaki-Campbell) than from the rat (Wistar), and in the Aylesbury X Pekin duck lower than in the turkey (Triple 6 FLX), chicken (Brown Leghorn, Rhode Island Red X Light Sussex) and goose (Emden X Doulouse). The microsomal cytochrome P-450 was lower in duck liver (Aylesbury X Pekin) than in rat liver, and the aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine demethylase activities in a 10,000 g supernatant fraction of liver were lower in duck preparations (Aylesbury X Pekin, Khaki-Campbell) than rat preparations. These observations suggest that the duck is likely to be susceptible to drugs which are metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 containing mono-oxygenases. UDP-Glucuronyl transferase activity was not detectable in liver and kidney slices from two mature geese. This observation was not the outcome of a deficiency of UDP-glucuronic acid, rapid breakdown of glucuronide by beta-glucuronidase or the presence of a substance inhibitory to UDP-glucuronyl transferase. Liver slices from geese, ducks (Aylesbury X Pekin) and chickens contained low UDP-glucuronyl transferase and high sulphate conjugation enzyme activities, whereas the reverse was found in Khaki-Campbell ducks. The activities of UDP-glucuronyl transferase and the sulphate conjugation enzymes were both relatively high in liver slices from the turkey and rat. The kidney contained lower enzyme activities than the liver except in the duck (Aylesbury X Pekin), in which low activities of aminopyrine demethylase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase were present in slices of both organs. In liver slices from chickens and geese the activities of aminopyrine demethylase and the sulphate conjugation enzymes were similar in mature and immature birds, and the activity of UDP-glucuronyl transferase was considerably higher in chicks and goslings than in mature birds of the same species. In the chick the activities of aminopyrine demethylase, UDP-glucuronyl transferase and the sulphate conjugation enzymes were higher in the duodenum than the remainder of the alimentary tract. The activities of these enzymes in pieces of duodenum were as high as those in slices of liver. The inclusion of sulphate in the incubation medium produced a significant increase in the synthesis of p-nitrophenyl sulphate in liver slices and not kidney slices except those from the duck. The kidney slices seemed to produce sufficient sulphate for the reaction of the sulphate conjugation enzymes to proceed at the maximum rate, but the liver slices did not do so.