Effects of benzodiazepines on enzymes metabolizing drugs. IV. Effect of diazepam and oxazepam on hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes in rats exposed to high environmental temperature.

Administration of diazepam or oxazepam caused a different response of the rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase system. Both drugs produced significant decrease in the activity of NADH: cytochrome c oxidoreductase in rats exposed to 21 degrees C, but not to 28 degrees C and 35 degrees C, and did not change the activity of aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine N-demethylase and 4-nitroanisole O-demethylase and cytochrome b5 level at any tested temperatures. Oxazepam, but not diazepam, caused a decrease in cytochrome P-450 content in rats exposed to 21 degrees C only. The results indicate that the high ambient temperature modifies the effect of tested benzodiazepines on the activity of some microsomal enzymes.