Hepatic delta 9 and delta 6 desaturase activities during the recovery period following carbon tetrachloride poisoning.

The liver microsomal delta 9 and delta 6 desaturase activities have been studied in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatitis. Immediately after poisoning, significant decreases were observed for both types of desaturase activity. However, recovery kinetics were slower for the delta 6 desaturase than for the delta 9 desaturase. The activities of NADH-ferricyanide and NADH-cytochrome C reductases, proteins involved in the electron transfers associated with microsomal desaturation, were also measured. There was a fall in both activities after poisoning, but this decrease was less than that of the desaturase activities.