EFFECT OF PHENOBARBITONE TREATMENT OF RATS AND OF PROTEIN DEPRIVATION ON CAPACITY OF LIVER SLICES TO CONJUGATE BILIRUBIN

The capacity of liver slices to conjugate and excrete bilirubin was increased by 45 per cent on treatment of rats with oral phenobarbitone for 3 weeks but was not significantly altered on feeding a protein-free diet for 4 days. These responses are different from those reported by other workers for liver microsomal drug-hydroxylating enzymes. Studies with inhibitors and stimulators of the liver slice system conjugating bilirubin indicated that the characteristic effects of these compounds were not altered by pre-treatment of rats with phenobarbitone or with a protein-free diet. © 1969.