[Dose-dependent effects on phenobarbital on microsomal liver enzymes of chicken embryos (author's transl)]

Levels of cytochrome P-450 and the activities of amino-pyrinedemethylase and p-nitrophenol-UDP-glucuronyltransferase were measured in homogenates and microsomes of 16 to 19 day old chicken embryos exposed in ovo to phenobarbital. The activities of glucose-6-phosphatase were measured on the 19th day of incubation. After the highest dose of 3 X 8 mg phenobarbital, cytochrome P-450 increased 3-6fold, aminopyrinedemethylase activity 7fold and the activity of p-nitrophenol-UDP-glucuronyltransferase 3fold. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was not increased but decreased. Corresponding to the given dose of phenobarbital (3X3, 3X4, 3X6, 3X8 mg) into the yolk sac an increase in enzyme activity levels mentioned above could as a rule be demonstrated at the level of p less than 0.0025. Calculated microsomal protein amounted to 43.0+/-6.5 mg/g liver.