STUDIES ON DRUG-METABOLISM AND LIVER ULTRASTRUCTURE AFTER CONJOINT TREATMENT WITH PREGNENOLONE-16ALPHA-CARBONITRILE AND DL-ETHIONINE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 227  (2) , 283-293
Abstract
Zoxazolamine paralysis, hexobarbital anesthesia and digitoxin convulsions were diminished in rats by 3 days of pretreatment with pregnenolone-16.alpha.-carbonitrile (PCN). Simultaneous injection of dl-ethionine did not block this effect of PCN. dl-Ethionine decreased, while PCN or PCN + ethionine increased, zoxazolamine metabolism by the 9000 g supernatant fraction of the liver. dl-Ethionine neutralized the influence of PCN and phenobarbital on zoxazolamine metabolism in rats that were pretreated with PCN or phenobarbital for 1 day, and inhibited the action of phenobarbital on hexobarbital anesthesia. PCN augmented the liver weight of animals given dl-ethionine; dl-ethionine in itself did not. PCN produced SER [smooth endoplasmic reticulum] proliferation in hepatocytes; dl-ethionine caused lipid accumulation, SER proliferation and myelin-figure formation. When administered conjointly, these compounds had an additive effect on the liver cell ultrastructure.