Effects of bile duct obstruction and decompression on hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system in rats

The effects of biliary obstruction and drainage on the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system were studied in rats. Bile duct obstruction produced a significant reduction in the hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent mixed function oxidase system. After release of the bile duct obstruction, the reduction in microsomal enzymes was practically reversible; however, the process of recovery was slow and differed with the microsomal enzymes in question. Increases in cytochrome b5 content and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase activity were slower than increases in cytochrome P-450 content and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. Aniline hydroxylase activity increased more rapidly and corresponded to cytochrome P-450 contents more so than did the aminopyrine demethylase activity. After the release of bile duct obstruction, however, the bile acids which had accumulated in the liver during cholestasis were reduced rapidly, to a normal range. These results suggests that there is a discrepancy between reductions in hepatic bile acids and those in the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system after biliary decompression.