LIVER AND KIDNEY MONOOXYGENASE ACTIVITY IN RATS SUBCHRONICALLY TREATED WITH ZN AND PB SALTS AND THEIR COMBINATION

The N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase (AN) activities were studied in liver and kidney after subchronic application of Pb(CH3COO)2 and Z nCl2 and in their combination(100 mg/kg b.w. daily with drinking water , 30 days)in Wistar male rats. N-demethylase activity in 10,000 xg sup ernatant was 3.2 to 6.5 times higher in liver than in kidney and depen ded on the substrates used. Pb(CH3COO)2 inhibited liver ethylmorphine N-demethylase (EMND). ZnCl2 increased EMND but inhibited amitriptyline N-demethylase (AMIND). Liver amidopyrine N-demethylase (APND) and imi pramine N-demethylase (IPND) were not changed Combined application of Pb and Zn salts produced inhibition of liver N-demethylation of the fo ur substrates used. Pb(CH3COO)2 and ZnCl2 changed the N-demethylase ac tivity less in kidney than in liver The combination significantly incr eased kidney APND, EMND and IPND. Liver AH was enhanced after ZnCl2 ap plication, but was not changed after intake of Pb(CH3COO)2 or metal sa lt combination.