Effect of Hypophysectomy and Cyproterone Acetate on the Liver Ultrastructure as well as on Hexobarbital Anesthesia and Zoxazolamine Paralysis in Rats[*]

Abstract

Experiments on female rats show that cyproterone acetate increases liver weight and causes extensive smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (SER) proliferation in hepatocytes even in the absence of the pituitary. Pretreatment with this steroid also reduces hexobarbital anesthesia and zoxazolamine paralysis in intact or hypophysectomized rats. Thus, it appears that the pituitary is not necessary for the enzyme-inducing action of cyproterone acetate.

Key words

Cyproterone Acetate - Hypophysectomy - Hexobarbital - Zoxazolamine - Liver Ultrastructure - Drug Metabolism - Enzyme Induction

1 Supported in part by grants from the Medical Research Council of Canada (Block Term Grant MT-1829), the Ministère des Affaires Sociales, Quebec, and the Succession J.A. DeSève.

1 Supported in part by grants from the Medical Research Council of Canada (Block Term Grant MT-1829), the Ministère des Affaires Sociales, Quebec, and the Succession J.A. DeSève.

2 Fellow of the Medical Research Council of Canada.

3 Present address: Department of Pathology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.

4 Present address: Medical University of Szeged, Institute of Pathophysiology, Szeged, Hungary.