Increased carbon tetrachloride-stimulated chemiluminescence in the in situ liver of barbital-treated mice.

Mice treated with barbital (0.1% in the drinking water) during 15 days showed a 63% increased endoplasmic reticulum mass. The carbon tetrachloride-stimulated chemiluminescence of the in situ liver was 51% increased after barbital treatment. Hydroperoxide-stimulated chemiluminescence of liver homogenates and microsomal suspensions were increased by 140 and 92%, respectively, in the barbital-treated mice. Spontaneous liver chemiluminescence (109 cps/cm2) was found unchanged after barbital treatment. Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were 109, 61 and 103%, respectively, increased after barbital treatment. The results are consistent with a primary role of cytochrome P 450 in the biotransformation of CCl4, which initiates a radical chain reaction leading to the production of powerful oxidizing species. Apparently, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase are synthetized in a coincident manner with respect to cytochrome P 450.