Methadone affects the histochemical pattern of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in the liver of pregnant rats.
Enzyme histochemistry performed on the liver of pregnant and non pregnant rats indicates that methadone (ME) does not cause direct damage to the cells. On the other hand, the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase was decreased in the periportal tract of the liver lobule of pregnant rats treated with 10 mg/kg ME for 20 days. NADPH dehydrogenase was increased in the central areas of the liver lobule within 3 days of ME treatment. It is suggested that a derangement of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in the liver, as well as in other organs, may be contribute to some of the alterations observed in ME treated animals.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008691:Methadone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D008691:Methadone