Functional hepatocellular heterogeneity determined by the hepatotoxins allyl alcohol and bromobenzene in immature and adult Fischer 344 rats.

Adult (male, 75-90 days old) and immature rats (both sexes, 11-12 days old) were treated with allyl alcohol or bromobenzene to induce periportal or centrilobular hepatic injury, respectively. Histologically confirmed liver lesions were produced in adult rats with both treatments. In adult rats, allyl alcohol decreased hepatic cytochrome P-450, benzphetamine N-demethylation, and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activities all by about 30%, whereas bromobenzene influenced these parameters differently: cytochrome P-450 was lowered by 55%, benzphetamine N-demethylation by 80%, and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation by 90%. Cytochrome c reductase, 5'-nucleotidase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activities were not significantly influenced. In immature rats, allyl alcohol did not produce histopathological alterations in liver, but did lower both cytochrome P-450 concentration (30%) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (75%). Benzphetamine N-demethylation was not significantly affected. Bromobenzene produced typical centrilobular liver damage and a decrease of both cytochrome P-450 (20%) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (50%). Benzphetamine N-demethylation was increased slightly, but not significantly. The differences in effects of the two hepatotoxins in adult vs immature rats seem to indicate that the hepatocellular heterogeneity of xenobiotic metabolism which is seen in adult liver (perivenous vs periportal areas) is not well developed in the immature animal.