Effect of some synthetic steroids on rat liver function

Norethynodrel proved to have moderately potent effects on hepatic function in female rats. It causes (a) loss of body mass, (b) increase in the relative liver mass, (c) rise in the protein content of liver, (d) increase in the cytochrome P-450 level, (e) reduction in the length of pentobarbital-induced sleep, and (f) increase in the rate of biotransformation of (i) aniline and (ii) aminopyrine. In contrast, ethynyl estradiol was shown to have little or no effect as judged by the same criteria, but, like norethynodrel, progesterone and estradiol, caused loss of body mass.