Causes for rifampicin toxicity--experimental study

A 12-day-experimental study of rifampicin (RMP) on male rats followed both the biochemical indices signalling disorder of metabolic equilibrium in the organism, and distribution of RMP in the tissues. The study showed the RMP concentration to be manifold higher in the liver than in the blood and other organs; in epididymal fat the concentration in one half of that in the blood. RMP adversely affects the energy metabolism, i.e. intake and resorption of nutrients, especially metabolically and calorically important lipids and sugars. RMP is harmful also for liver parenchyma.