UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in the regenerating rat liver

Abstract

In both acute and chronic liver disease in man, elimination of drugs metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes is impaired. In contrast, those drugs metabolized by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) have a relatively normal elimination. Studies in rats with experimentally induced liver injury also show this relative preservation of glucuronidation. In liver disease, a number of factors, including inflammation, fibrosis and regeneration, may be associated with this differenfial effect on drug metabolism. Partial hepatectomy provides a model in which to isolate the effects of liver regeneration on drug metabolism. Partial hepatectomy or sham operation was performed in 24 male Sprague-Daw..