title: Induction of drug metabolism can be a homeostatic response.
abstract: The invasion of the body by toxic agents, in addition to the specific effects, causes a stereotype non-specific response -stress-, and an adaptive phenomenon like drug metabolism. Reserpine or hydrocortisone, causing a typical stress response, produce increased plasma concentrations of corticosterone in rats. -Here it is shown that corticosterone administration once, or for three days twice daily (200 mumoles/kg) increase body resistance to zoxazolamine, methyprylon, and tetraethylammonium bromide, reduce their plasma concentrations and augment zoxazolamine, hexobarbital, and aniline in vitro drug metabolism (9000 g liver supernatant). This constitutes a good evidence that drug metabolism can be induced in response to need.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Kourounakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rekka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D003345:Corticosterone