Influence of drugs on the bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity and the concentration of Y and Z acceptor proteins in rat liver.

The aim of this paper is to report on the influence of phenobarbital, the combination of phenobarbital/nicethamide, the racemate and (+) isomer of methylphenobarbital on the activity of bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase and the concentration of intrahepatic Y and Z protein in rats. The activity of bilirubin UDP-glucuronyltransferase increased after the treatment in all groups. Pretreatment with phenobarbital/nicethamide resulted in the highest enzyme activity, using wet weight as reference. (+) Methylphenobarbital isomer as well as the racemate showed effects similar to those of phenobarbital. The concentration of hepatic Y acceptor protein increased in all pretreated groups by about 30%. The drugs did not increase the concentration of Z protein. The (+) isomer of methylphenobarbital seems better suited as an inductive drug in the prophylaxis of hyperbilirubinemia and in the treatment of nonconjugated hyperbilirubinemia than phenobarbital or phenobarbital/nicethamide since it has no sedative effect.