Effects of human placental extract on hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme

Effects of acute or subchronic administration of human placental extract (HPE), a worldwide clinically used agent, on hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme activities were evaluated in rats. Hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 (Cyt. P450) and cytochrome b5 (Cyt. b5) contents and cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were maximally induced after various periods of time following a single intraperitoneal injection of HPE (4 ml/kg) whereas microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) activities were inhibited significantly. All these altered effects were returned almost to the basal levels after 96 h of treatment. Subchronic treatment (30 days) with HPE (1,2 or 4 ml/kg) afforded a significant induction of Cyt. P-450 and Cyt. b5 levels and that of GST activities with a concurrent suppression of the activities of UDPGT and these results were found to be dose-dependent. However, microsomal NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity was not affected either by acute or subchronic treatment. The observed variations in the levels and activities of above house-keeping enzymes were discussed in relation to the possible carcinogenic risk of long-term treatment with this pharmaceutical agent.