title: Hepatic microsomal drug oxidation and electron transport in newborn infants.
abstract: Many drugs require oxidative metabolism for termination of action and/or for elimination from the body. Many oxidative reactions are catalyzed by hepatic microsomal enzymes. The activities of various drug-metabolizing enzymes, namely, NADPH cytochrome c reductase, NADPH oxidase, aminopyrine-N-demethylase, and analine P-hydroxylase, and the content of cytochrome P-450, were measured in hepatic microsomes obtained from seven newborn infants and four adult patients. The results in the newborn infant show increasing activities of these enzymes (except aminopyrine-N-demethylase) related to advancing age. Good correlation between three components of the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system and aniline p-hydroxylase was established, whereas only NADPH oxidation correlated with aminopyrine N-demethylation. The rate of substrate or drug oxidation and the activities of the components of the microsomal electron transport pathway were lower than comparable values in the adult. The data demonstrate a possible biochemical basis for the transient deficiency in drug metabolism seen in newborn infants.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000633:Aminopyrine N-Demethylase / Q000378:metabolism; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001344:Autopsy; D001706:Biopsy; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D003579:Cytochrome Reductases / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D000633:Aminopyrine N-Demethylase; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D003579:Cytochrome Reductases