[Changes in the hydroxylating function and structure of the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum of the rat as affected by...

It has been shown in experiments on male rats that administration of cordiamine per os in a dose of 73 mg/kg for 45 days provokes hepatomegaly, proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in hepatocytes, an increase in the microsomal fraction release, rise in the content of cytochrome P450 and in the rate of N-demethylation of ethylmorphine and p-hydroxylation of aniline in liver microsomes. The spectral magnitude of cytochrome P450 binding with aniline and cordiamine does not change under the effect of the latter drug, while interaction of the enzyme with ethylmorphine decreases. The rate of the recovery of the cytochrome P450-ethylmorphine complex increases 3-fold. It is assumed that an increase in the content of cytochrome and in the rate of xenobiotic hydroxylation in microsomes after prolonged administration of cordiamine might be regarded as substrate induction in nature.