Drug metabolism in experimental tuberculosis. I. Changes in hepatic and pulmonary monooxygenase activities due to infection

Abstract

Pulmonary and hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme activities of tuberculous guinea pigs were examined in detail. Experimental tuberculosis resulted in enlargement of liver and lung accompanied by decreased microsomal cytosolic protein. The tuberculosis infection resulted in decreased hepatic contents of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b₅ NADPH-cytochrome C reductase in lung and liver. A parallel decrease in the microsomal mixed function oxidases (MFO) was observed in liver and lung of tuberculous guinea pigs. The hepatic and pulmonary activities of UDP-glucu'onyl transferase were elevated in the infected animals. Glutathione S-transferase activity exhibited an increase in liver and decrea e in the lung of tuberculous guinea pigs. Some of the changes observed in monooxygenase in tuberulosis were caused by reduo d food consumption. In general, tuberculosis infection can be viewed to lower drug metabolizing capacity of the animal, probably dje to the damage and disturbed membrane integrity.