Hepatic microsomal drug oxidation and electron transport in newborn infants

Many drugs require oxidative metabolism for termination of action and/or for elimination from the body. Many oxidative reactions are catalyzed by hepatic microsomal enzymes. The activities of various drug-metabolizing enzymes, namely, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, NADPH oxidase, aminopyrine-N-demethylase, and analine P-hydroxylase, and the content of cytochrome P-450, were measured in hepatic microsomes obtained from seven newborn infants and four adult patients. The results in the newborn infant show increasing activities of these enzymes (except aminopyrine-N-demethylase) related to advancing age. Good correlation between three components of the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system and aniline p-hydroxylase was established, whereas only NADPH oxidation correlated with aminopyrine N-demethylation. The rate of substrate or drug oxidation and the activities of the components of the microsomal electron transport pathway were lower than comparable values in the adult. The data demonstrate a possible biochemical basis for the transient deficiency in drug metabolism seen in newborn infants.