Serum lipids and hepatic microsomal enzymes with special reference to serum cholinesterase in Wistar rats

Serum pseudocholinesterase in accordance with indicators revealing the lipid metabolism and liver function was studied in rats exposed to phenobarbital, bis-p-nitrophenylphosphate and disulfiram in vivo. Phenobarbital markedly induced the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes and tended to decrease the triglyceride content in serum. Serum lipids remained almost unaffected after the treatment of bis-p-nitrophenylphosphate. However, serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity showed a marked decrease to this organophosphorus compound. Disulfiram activated the microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (p-nitrophenol) activity, and caused an enhancement of serum total cholesterol, which suggests that this drug might be atherogenic.