Effect of different factors modifying the activity of some enzyme systems of the endoplastic reticulum on the sensitivity of cell organelles against the damaging action of chemical agents. I: Interrelations between the activity of some enzyme systems located in endoplasmic reticulum and hepatotoxicity of carbon tetrachloride.

An increased stability of liver lysosomes and mitochondria of burned, dehydrated and tumour-bearing rats has been found in the present investigations. Using biochemical criteria we were able to show that the membranes of liver subcellular particles of these animals become more resistent to the labilizing action of CCl4. The latter effect was confirmed by electron microscopic data. The tumour growth, dehydration and burning of rats as well as sleep deprivation, overheating, lanthanum and ruthenium red have been shown to cause changes in the activity of some enzyme-systems located in endoplasmic reticulum. The protective action of these chemical, pathological and stress factors against CCl4 produced damage to the cell organelles studied is discussed in relation to the activity of the drug metabolizing pathways; biochemical (modifying of some enzyme activity) as well as pharmacological (duration of hexobarbital sleep) data were used as criteria for the activity of these pathways.