Microsomal enzymes inducers and serum minerals in carbon-tetrachloride hepatotoxicity.

The effect of ten repeated doses of carbon tetrachloride, phenobarbitone and propionyl promazine when administered alone or simultaneously with CCl4 on serum minerals was investigated. Carbon tetrachloride resulted in a significant increase in serum iron, copper, zinc, calcium, potassium and sodium. A portion of this rise was due to increased permeability in damaged mitochondrial membrane as a result of the action of CCl4. Propionyl promazine when administered alone or together with CCl4 has no effect on serum minerals. Phenobarbitone when administered alone increased serum minerals except sodium, but to a lesser degree than CCl4, while phenobarbitone when given repeatedly together with small doses of CCl4 led to a normalization of serum iron, calcium and potassium. Also serum zinc and copper were lower than in case of CCl4. This may be due to some protective effect of phenobarbitone on liver mitochondria. Serum magnesium was not affected in all the experimental groups.