The effect of hypoxia on hepatic cytochromes and heme turnover in rats in vivo

We evaluated the effect of hypoxia (7% v/v) on hepatic heme turnover in vivo and microsomal heme protein content in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hepatic heme protein turnover, measured as 14CO-production during continuous infusion of 5-14C-aminolevulinic acid, a precursor of nonerythrogenic heme, was decreased 60% during hypoxia and returned to control levels promptly after reoxygenation. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content was decreased in hypoxic and 24-h reoxygenated animals. We conclude that normobaric hypoxia decreases hepatic cytochrome P-450 which could contribute to decreased drug metabolism in hypoxia. This decrease is probably due to heme oxygenase-independent breakdown of hepatic heme.     

Inhibition of hepatic Na+, K+-adenosinetriphosphatase in taurolithocholate-induced cholestasis in the rat

Summary Na⁺, K⁺-adenosinetriphosphatase (Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase) activity was decreased in liver plasma membranes from rats in which cholestasis had been induced by i.v. administration of sodium taurolithocholate (5 moles/100 g b. wt). Incubation of liver plasma membranes with taurolithocholate (10–1300 M) caused significant and dose dependent reductions of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity at taurolithocholate concentrations above 100 M. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that cholestasis induced by monohydroxy bile acids is at least partially the result of an inhibition of hepatic Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity.This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.The authors thank Mr H. Sägesser and Miss B. Schütz for technical assistance.     

Expansion of the bile acid pool changes the biliary transport characteristics of centrizonal hepatocytes

We investigated whether acinar differences in taurocholate transport are responsible for the increased maximal secretory rate observed after expansion of the bile acid pool. The bile acid pool was expanded by cholate feeding for four days. Periportal and centrizonal hepatocytes were then probed by ante- and retrograde liver perfusion, respectively. In control animals, secretory rate constant (alpha 1) averaged 0.439 +/- 0.123 and 0.104 +/- 0.035 min-1 during ante- and retrograde perfusion, respectively, in the absence of exogenous taurocholate. These values did not significantly change when taurocholate was infused. In cholate-fed animals, alpha 1 was comparable during antegrade perfusion but was significantly reduced (0.038 +/- 0.035, p less than 0.05) during retrograde perfusion in the absence of exogenous taurocholate, presumably owing to induction of cytosolic bile acid binding proteins. During loading with exogenous taurocholate, by contrast, alpha 1 was significantly accelerated (0.252 +/- 0.026; p less than 0.01) in centrizonal hepatocytes from bile-acid fed rats. Expansion of the bile acid pool is able to change the bile salt secretory characteristics of centrizonal hepatocytes toward those of periportal ones.     

Influence of common bile duct cannula size on maximal secretory rate of taurocholate in the rat

Summary The common bile duct of male Sprague-Dawley rats was cannulated with either PE 10 or PE 50 tubing. Maximal secretory rate of taurocholate averaged 389±67 (SD) and 657±115 nmoles·min^–1·g liver^–1 in the PE 10 and PE 50 group, respectively (p<0.005). Maximal bile secretory pressure was significantly higher in the PE 10 group (240±28 vs 174±8 mm H20; p<0.005). When the maximal secretory rate was exceeded, bile flow decreased in both groups but this was accompanied with a decrease in maximal bile secretory pressure in the PE 10 group only. Maximal secretory rate of bile salts is markedly influenced by experimental technique. Use of small caliber common bile duct cannulae leads to partial obstruction and decreases the apparent maximal secretory rate for taurocholate.Acknowledgments. J. Reichen was the recipient of a Faculty Development Award in Clinical Pharmacology from The Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association Foundation, and is the recipient of a Research Career Development Award (KO4 AM 1189) from the National Institutes of Health. Supported by National Institutes of Health grant RO1 AM 27597.     

Abnormal lipid composition of microsomes from cirrhotic rat liver—does it contribute to decreased microsomal function?

We determined to what extent a change in the lipid composition of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum contributes to altered microsomal function in cirrhosis. Rats were rendered cirrhotic either by chronic exposure to phenobarbital/CCl₄ (MCIR) or by bile duct ligation (BCIR). Microsomal function was tested in vivo by the aminopyrine breath test (ABT), then microsomes were prepared and their phospholipid and cholesterol composition analysed. ABT was reduced by 35 and 41% in BCIR and MCIR, respectively. Cholesterol in microsomes was increased in both cirrhotic groups. (BCIR +154%, MCIR +75%) while total phospholipid content was not affected. As shown in other membrane systems, the phospholipid/cholesterol (PL/XOL) ratio showed an excellent inverse correlation with fluorescence anisotropy determined by diphenylhexatriene fluorescence polarization (r=–0.896). The PL/XOL ratio was significantly correlated with aminopyrine N-demethylation in vivo (r=0.649). Alterations in the composition of phospholipid groups (an increase in sphingomyelin in both cirrhotic groups, and a decrease in phosphatidylcholine and an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine in BCIR) also contributed to increased membrane rigidity. We conclude that altered membrane fluidity contributes to diminished microsomal function but that other factors must also be involved since the PL/XOL ratio explained only 42% of the variance in aminopyrine N-demethylation.     

The effect of hypoxia on hepatic cytochromes and heme turnover in rats in vivo

Summary We evaluated the effect of hypoxia (7% v/v) on hepatic heme turnover in vivo and microsomal heme protein content in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Hepatic heme protein turnover, measured as¹⁴CO-production during continuous infusion of 5-¹⁴C-aminolevulinic acid, a precursor of nonerythrogenic heme, was decreased 60% during hypoxia and returned to control levels promptly after reoxygenation. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content was decreased in hypoxic and 24-h reoxygenated animals. We conclude that normobaric hypoxia decreases hepatic cytochrome P-450 which could contribute to decreased drug metabolism in hypoxia. This decrease is probably due to heme oxygenase-independent breakdown of hepatic heme.     

Abnormal lipid composition of microsomes from cirrhotic rat liver--does it contribute to decreased microsomal function?

We determined to what extent a change in the lipid composition of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum contributes to altered microsomal function in cirrhosis. Rats were rendered cirrhotic either by chronic exposure to phenobarbital/CCl4 (MCIR) or by bile duct ligation (BCIR). Microsomal function was tested in vivo by the aminopyrine breath test (ABT), then microsomes were prepared and their phospholipid and cholesterol composition analysed. ABT was reduced by 35 and 41% in BCIR and MCIR, respectively. Cholesterol in microsomes was increased in both cirrhotic groups. (BCIR + 154%, MCIR + 75%) while total phospholipid content was not affected. As shown in other membrane systems, the phospholipid/cholesterol (PL/XOL) ratio showed an excellent inverse correlation with fluorescence anisotropy determined by diphenylhexatriene fluorescence polarization (r = -0.896). The PL/XOL ratio was significantly correlated with aminopyrine N-demethylation in vivo (r = 0.649). Alterations in the composition of phospholipid groups (an increase in sphingomyelin in both cirrhotic groups, and a decrease in phosphatidylcholine and an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine in BCIR) also contributed to increased membrane rigidity. We conclude that altered membrane fluidity contributes to diminished microsomal function but that other factors must also be involved since the PL/XOL ratio explained only 42% of the variance in aminopyrine N-demethylation.     

Cimetidine induces hepatic heme oxygenase activity without altering hepatic heme catabolism

Cimetidine inhibits oxidative drug metabolism; it is not known whether this drug alters the catabolic fate of hepatic heme. We therefore investigated hepatic heme turnover both by a 14CO breath test and directly by labeling the heme pool. Neither acute (150 mg/kg i.p.) nor chronic (150 mg/kg i.p. bid for 3 days) cimetidine administration significantly affected hepatic heme turnover. Chronic, but not acute, cimetidine significantly (p less than 0.025) increased heme oxygenase activity. Cimetidine inhibited heme oxygenase activity in vitro at concentrations achieved in vivo.     

Cimetidine induces hepatic heme oxygenase activity without altering hepatic heme catabolism

Summary Cimetidine inhibits oxidative drug metabolism; it is not known whether this drug alters the catabolic fate of hepatic heme. We therefore investigated hepatic heme turnover both by a¹⁴CO breath test and directly by labeling the heme pool. Neither acute (150 mg/kg i.p.) nor chronic (150 mg/kg i.p. bid for 3 days) cimetidine administration significantly affected hepatic heme turnover. Chronic, but not acute, cimetidine significantly (p<0.025) increased heme oxygenase activity. Cimetidine inhibited heme oxygenase activity in vitro at concentrations achieved in vivo.