Liver Damage in Rats by Allylisopropylacetamide (AIA), an Inducer of δ‐Aminolevulinic Acid Synthetase (ALAS)

: Twentyfour hours after the intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of allylisopropylacetamide (AIA) in amounts of 100 mg/kg or more to 30-day old male Wistar rats, the livers of most of the animals showed an irregular yellow colouration and a fragile consistency. No macroscopic changes were detected following AIA doses of 25 or 50 mg/kg. Bromsulphthalein retention was not significantly increased after the administration of 25 mg/kg AIA, but distinctly enhanced after 400 mg/kg. Succinate-dehydrogenase-activity in liver homogenate was not altered after 25 mg/kg, but significantly decreased after 400 mg/kg. Ethylmorphine-N-demethylation activity was enhanced after small doses without increase of cytochrome P-450 (cyt. P-450) concentration and decreased after higher doses, accompanied by a remarkable cyt. P-450 loss. GPT activity in serum and liver was not altered after both 25 and 400 mg/kg AIA. GOT activity was slightly but significantly enhanced both in serum and liver after the high dose of 400 mg/kg. Thus in addition to the well-known cyt. P-450 destruction other signs of hepatotoxicity could be demonstrated.