Determination of antipyrine sulphoconjugates in isolated cultured rat hepatocytes.

1. An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of three major metabolites of antipyrine, namely, 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (phase I), 4-hydroxyantipyrine sulphoconjugate (phase II) and norantipyrine sulphoconjugate (phase II) in cultured rat hepatocytes has been developed and applied to the study of induction or inhibition of these metabolic pathways following pretreatment of rats with several inducers or inhibitors. 2. Phenobarbital was the most effective inducer of the three pathways studied, particularly the formation of 4-hydroxyantipyrine sulphoconjugate; 3-methyl-cholanthrene (MC) increased the formation of the two sulphoconjugates, but decreased the formation of 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine. 3. Rifampicin inhibits antipyrine metabolism in rat. The three metabolic pathways studied were decreased by 30%. 4. SKF 525A markedly inhibited the three metabolic pathways; piperonyl butoxide and omeprazole decreased the three pathways but to a lesser extent. Cimetidine decreased the two sulphoconjugates pathways, but did not affect 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine formation.