UNCOUPLING OF LIVER MONOOXYGENASE SYSTEM BY PERFLUOROCARBONS IN-VIVO

Administration of the cytochrome P450 inducer perfluorodecalin (PFD) c auses a twofold increase in the rate of NADPH oxidation in the microso mes of animal livers. This effect is due to the presence of PFD in the active center of cytochrome P450, which uncouples microsomal hydroxyl ation, The accelerated oxidation of NADH involved no lowering of the t otal level of reduced pyridine nucleotide in liver and left glucose co ncentration in the blood plasma unchanged. It is suggested that fast w eight loss by starving animals upon administration of the fluorocarbon emulsion is due to energy dissipation in fluorocarbon-uncoupled monoo xygenase reactions in the liver.