[Effects of ethylene glycol on drug metabolizing enzymes in rat liver]

We investigated the effects of ethylene glycol (EG) on the hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes. The exposed group was given 1% EG solution and the control group was provided with distilled water for 2 weeks ad libitum. The body weight of the exposed group was the same as that of the control group. The liver and kidney weight per body weight did not change. The daily drinking volume for the exposed group on the average showed an increase of 13.5% over that of the control group. Hematologically and biochemically, anemia, liver and renal dysfunction were not seen. The content of the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the exposed group showed an increase of 17% over that of the control group, but the contents of cytochrome b5, protoheme and the activities of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, NADH-ferricyanide reductase did not change. The activities of the hepatic cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase also did not change. These results indicate that the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 takes part in the metabolism of EG.