Induction of cytochrome P-450c and P-450d by metyrapone in the primary culture of rat hepatocytes.

The effects of metyrapone on qualitative changes in cytochrome P-450-dependent drug metabolizing activities in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were investigated. Metyrapone apparently increased benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation and maintained both ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylation and propoxycoumarin-O-depropylation, whereas it had little effect on methoxycoumarin-O-demethylation. Furthermore, P-450d (high spin type of P-448) as well as P-450c (low spin type of P-448) were induced by metyrapone, while P-450b and P-450e were not. In conclusion, metyrapone act as a 3-methylcholanthrene-like inducer in the primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.