[Protein restriction and metabolism of xenobiotics]

Young male rats were fed a balanced diet or a low-protein diet (casein 6%; w/w) for 6 weeks. After 2 weeks, each group was divided, one half being maintained as the control and the other half being fed diet-containing (Phenoclor DP6) at a level of 50 mg/kg for 4 weeks. A low-protein diet lowered the liver glutathione content and the activity of the mono-oxygenases. It lowered the inductive effect of PCB towards P450, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, aminopyrine demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, but it raised the benzo(a) pyrene hydroxylase induction.