Effect of long term iron deficiency on the activities of hepatic and extra-hepatic drug metabolising enzymes in Fischer rats.

Male Fischer rats were maintained for a period of 17 weeks on an iron-deficient diet along with suitable controls. The effect of long term deprivation of iron on xenobiotic metabolism was studied by the activities of various drug metabolising enzymes in both liver as well as extra-hepatic tissues like lungs, kidneys and intestinal mucosa (I.M.). The results show that among the Phase I (activating) enzymes, the hepatic activities of benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase (AHH) and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) are significantly reduced in iron deficiency. The other parameters of the activating system, namely cytochrome P450, aminopyrene demethylase (ADM) and aniline hydroxylase (AH), are not altered. Of the two Phase II (conjugating) enzymes studied, only uridine diphospho glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) is found to be depressed, but not glutathione S-transferase (GST) in liver in iron deficiency. Activities of Phase I enzymes are markedly lowered in extra-hepatic tissues compared to liver; such depression is not observed in conjugating enzymes. Iron deficiency does not seem to make much impact on the enzyme activities of extra-hepatic tissues. Overall, the hepatic results suggest a defect in detoxification mechanisms in iron deficiency. Such impairment may very well predispose an iron-deficient host to an increased risk of carcinogenesis.