Influence of ethanol on microsomal p-nitrophenol hydroxylation and ethoxyresorufin deethylation in rat liver and lung.

The ability of ethanol to induce the deethylation of ethoxyresorufin and hydroxylation of p-nitrophenol in rat lung and liver was investigated. The administration of 10% ethanol in the drinking water for 7 d increased hepatic p-nitrophenol hydroxylation twofold whereas ethanol ip (3 ml/kg/d for 7 d) decreased the activity. Both ethanol treatments decreased the activity in the lung. Ethoxyresorufin deethylation was induced in the liver by both ethanol treatments, and in the lung the bolus dosing ip increased the activity four-fold. The results indicate that the lung microsomes have p-nitrophenol hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufin deethylase activities, but only the latter was increased by ethanol treatment.