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Stimulation of hepatic sodium and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity by phenobarbital. Its possible role in regulation of bile flow.

Since phenobarbital administration produces a profound increase in bile flow without changing bile acid secretion, we examined whether this drug increases the activity of hepatic sodium-potassium-activated ATPase [Na+-K+)-ATPase], the postulated regulating enzyme in the secretion of bile salt independent bile flow. After freeze-thawing to increase substrate accessibility, (Na+-K+) ATPase activity was determined by ouabain inhibition of total ATPase activity. Its activity was highest in isolated liver surface membrane fractions enriched in bile canalicult. Phenobarbital administration significatly increased (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity in both liver surface membrane fractions as well as liver homogenates. This enhanced activity is apparently selective for other membrane phosphatases and the enzyme activity in other tissues is either unaltered or decreased. Kinetic analysis of (Ka+-K+)-ATPase indicates that phenobarbital treatment increased maximum velocity and half-maximum activation constant was unchanged, consistent with activation of latent molecules or an increased number of enzyme molecules. The latter process seems more likely because cycloheximide prevented phenobarbital induction and activators were not demonstrated in vitro. Examination of the full time course of phenobarbital induction to determine whether phenobarbital increased synthesis or decreased degradation was consistent with increased synthesis since the apparent degradation rates were similar with or without phenobarbital treatment. The apparent half-life for (Na+-K+)-ATPase was estimated to be approximately 2.5 days, consistent with liver surface membrane protein turnover. The correlation of changes in bile flow with (Na+-K+)-ATPase was examined under several experimental situations. Phenobarbital caused a parallel increase in each during the 1st 2 days of greatment: thereafter other factors become rate limiting for flow, since enzyme activity doesn't reach a new steady state until 4-days. Consistent with increased sodium-potassium exchange, bile sodium was unchanged while potasium concentrations were significantly reduced. Changes in both bile flow and (Na+-K+)-ATPase induced by phenobarbital are independent of thyroid hormone. These studies support the postulate that (Na+-K+)-ATPase is an important factor in regulation of bile flow. In addition, phenobarbital enhancement of both bile flow and (Na+-K+)-ATPase is dependent upon de novo protein synthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphatases

Alterations in nicotinamide and adenine nucleotide systems during mixed-function oxidation of p-nitroanisole in perfused livers from normal and phenobarbital-treated rats.

The contents of adenine nucleotides as well as steady-state concentrations of a number of glycolytic, pentose phosphate-pathway and tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates were measured in extracts of livers from normal and phenobarbital-treated rats that were perfused with p-nitroanisole. Metabolites were measured in livers that were freeze-clamped during periods of maximal rates of drug metabolism. Treatment of rats with phenobarbital increased rates of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation approx. fivefold. The concentrations of lactate, xylulose 5-phosphate and ribulose 5-phosphate were increased by phenobarbital treatment, whereas that of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate declined. Perfusion of livers with p-nitroanisole produced significant increases in 6-phosphogluconate and ribulose 5-phosphate in livers from phenobarbital-treated rats, but not in livers from control rats. Treatment of rats with phenobarbital caused [NADP(+)]/[NADPH] to change in the direction of more oxidation, as calculated from measured concentrations of 6-phosphogluconate and ribulose 5-phosphate; however, the [NADP(+)]/[NADPH] ratio calculated from ;malic' enzyme was not changed. Additions of p-nitroanisole produced a reduction of NADP(+) as calculated from 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity, but did not alter the [NADP(+)]/[NADPH] ratio calculated from substrates assumed to be in equilibrium with ;malic' enzyme. Activities of both glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and ;malic' enzyme were increased by phenobarbital treatment. NAD(+) became more reduced as a result of phenobarbital treatment; however, perfusion of livers with p-nitroanisole did not cause a change in the oxidation-reduction state of this nucleotide. Concentrations of adenine nucleotides in livers were not altered significantly by treatment of rats with phenobarbital; however, a significant decline in the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio occurred during mixed-function oxidation of p-nitroanisole in livers from phenobarbital-treated rats, but not in livers from normal rats. Perfusion of livers with two other substrates for mixed-function oxidation, hexobarbital and aminopyrine, produced an increase in the [NADP(+)]/[NADPH] ratio calculated from ;malic' enzyme. In contrast with livers perfused with p-nitroanisole, there was no significant change in adenine nucleotides in livers exposed to hexobarbital or aminopyrine. Addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol (25mum) to the perfusate containing aminopyrine decreased the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio and tended to prevent the oxidation of NADPH observed with aminopyrine alone. Thus in the presence of an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, NADPH generation may exceed its utilization via mixed-function oxidation.

Adenine Nucleotides

Phenobarbital-induced alterations in the metabolism of [3H]vitamin D3 by the perfused rachitic rat liver in vitro.

Anticonvulsant therapy of seizure disorders in man is associated with the development of complications involving bone and mineral metabolism including hypocalcemia, elevated serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone levels, and increased amounts of unmineralized bone or osteoid. The latter has been attributed to a reduction in serum-25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels resulting from increased hepatic metabolism of vitamin D. Using an in vitro recycling hepatic perfusion system, we have demonstrated that 5 d of phenobarbital treatment increases the hepatic production of [(3)H]25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (4.3+/-0.3 vs. 3.3+/-0.2%/h, P <0.025) without affecting the biliary excretion of radioactivity. Furthermore, rachitic livers perfused with blood obtained from animals treated with phenobarbital for 5 d also manifested an increase in [(3)H]25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) production (4.6+/-0.5 vs. 3.3+/-0.2%/h, P < 0.02). Addition of phenobarbital or its major metabolite, p-hydroxyphenobarbital, directly to the perfusion apparatus had no effect on [(3)H]25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) production. Phenobarbital treatment was also attended by a decrease in the intrahepatic content of [(3)H]vitamin D(3) (11.7+/-0.4 vs. 17.5+/-0.7 dpm/mg liver protein, P < 0.001) without alterations in the content of [(3)H]25-hydroxyvitamin D(3). The data collectively suggest that the increased hepatic conversion of [(3)H]vitamin D(3) to [(3)H]25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) attending phenobarbital treatment is secondary to stimulation of the hepatic 25-hydroxylation system(s) by a metabolite of phenobarbital other than p-hydroxyphenobarbital and/or by metabolic alterations resulting from phenobarbital therapy.

Animals

Metabolism of dimethoxymethyl phenobarbital (eterobarb) in patients with epilepsy.

The metabolism of dimethoxymethyl phenobarbital (DMMP) was investigated in 6 epileptic patients using deuterium-labeled drug measured by integrated gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Following an oral dose of 120 mg, none of the parent compound appeared in serum, urine, or saliva in spite of a measurement sensitivity of less than 0.05 nmol/ml. A metabolite, monomethoxymethyl phenobarbital (MMP), was detected in all patients, with peak serum concentrations averaging 1.96 nmol/ml at 1.3 hours. Phenobarbital was the major metabolite detected, and it reached peak levels in 6 to 12 hours. Two of the patients were continued on DMMP therapy for several months and then administered a pulse dose of deuterated drug. Again no DMMP was detectable. Steady-state drug administration had no effect on the kinetics of metabolism of either MMP or phenobarbital although peak serum concentrations were lower for both metabolites. In the urine of 5 patients an unidentified labeled fragment was detected that does not appear in urine from patients taking phenobarbital. From these pharmacokinetic studies it appears likely that the anticonvulsant activity of DMMP results from its metabolic conversion to phenobarbital.

Adolescent

Side effects of phenobarbital in toddlers; behavioral and cognitive aspects.

Cognitive and behavioral effects of phenobarbital in toddlers were assessed in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of patients who had had a febrile seizure. There were no significant differences in IQ (Binet or Bayley Scales) between placebo and phenobarbital groups after eight to 12 months of therapy. However, detrimental effects of phenobarbital were found in memory, for which serum level influenced scores, and in comprehension, in that length of treatment time affected performance. Hyperactivity was not seen. Behavioral changes, reported by parents, were increased fussiness and a characteristic disturbance of sleep. These changes varied in severity and were classified as transient, dose related, or unacceptable. After 12 months in the study, most parents could not distinguish between phenobarbital and placebo. Our data suggest that although most toddlers do not have major side effects from phenobarbital therapy when treated for a year, serum levels and length of time on phenobarbital should be kept at a minimum to reduce negative cognitive and behavioral effects.

Child Behavior Disorders

Interaction of diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin) and phenobarbital with hormonal mediation of fetal rat bone resorption in vitro.

Chronic administration of high doses of anticonvulsant drugs frequently produces classic osteomalacia with bone histologic changes characteristic of increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) effect in man. However, several reports have documented defects in calcified tissue metabolism suggestive of an end-organ resistance to PTH after chronic anticonvulsant drug therapy. To examine the direct action of anticonvulsant drugs on bone resorption, we investigated the effects of diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin) (DPH) (100-200 mug/ml) and phenobarbital (10-400 mug/ml) on basal and hormonally mediated resorption 5-day cultures of fetal rat forelimb rudiments. In this system both drugs significantly inhibited basal and PTH-stimulated (45)Ca and [(3)H]hydroxyproline release, as well as 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3)-stimulated (45)Ca release. The effects of DPH and phenobarbital were additive, with DPH exhibiting a several-fold more potent inhibitory effect than phenobarbital. Whereas DPH exhibited a striking synergism with the inhibitory effects of human calcitonin (HCT) on PTH-induced resorption, the effect of phenobarbital was merely additive to that of HCT. PTH and PTH plus HCT-induced increases in bone cyclic AMP (cAMP) content were significantly inhibited by DPH but not by phenobarbital. However, in contrast to effects on (45)Ca release, DPH inhibition of cAMP generation was not accentuated in the presence of HCT. It is concluded that: (a) both DPH and phenobarbital can directly inhibit basal and hormonally stimulated bone resorption, with DPH being much more potent in this regard; (b) DPH appears to inhibit bone resorption via a cAMP-independent mechanism and has an additional suppressive effect on PTH-induced cAMP generation; and (c) the synergistic interaction of DPH and HCT in inhibiting (45)Ca release occurs at a site independent of cAMP generation.

Animals

[Changes in the osmotic fragility of erythrocyte membrane in morphine- and phenobarbital-dependent rats (author's transl)].

This is apparently the first attempt to elucidate the relationship between drug dependence and the osmotic fragility of erythrocyte membrane. The osmotic fragility was measured using a coil planet centrifuge (CPC) system. Utilizing the drug-admixed food (DAF) method, rats were made drug-dependent. The osmotic fragility of morphine-dependent rats was significantly enhanced, compared with that of naive rats. By withdrawing or treating the rats with levallorphan, the osmotic fragility was enhanced more than in the morphine-dependent state. When the morphine-withdrawal rats were again given the morphine-admixed food, the osmotic fragility recovered to the morphine-dependent level. The osmotic fragility of phenobarbital-dependent rats was significantly decreased, compared with that of naive rats. On the contrary, in the phenobarbital-withdrawal rats, the osmotic fragility was significantly enhanced, compared with that of the phenobarbital-dependent rats. With re-treatment of phenobarbital-admixed food, the osmotic fragility was recovered to the levels seen in the phenobarbital-dependent rats. Abstinence signs including weight loss, decrease in food and water intake, adrenal hypertrophy etc., were observed during morphine or phenobarbital withdrawal. The effects of food or water deprivation and application of ACTH on the osmotic fragility were then studied and we found that the osmotic fragility was enhanced with these treatments. These results suggest that enhancement of osmotic fragility during withdrawal of these drugs is partly influenced by these treatments.

Adrenal Glands

Evaluation of in vivo parameters of drug metabolizing enzyme activity in man after administration of clemastine, phenobarbital or placebo.

The 24 h urinary excretion of 6beta-hydroxycortisol and D-glucaric acid, the plasma half lives and total clearances of aminopyrine, and serum gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity have been measured in nineteen healthy male volunteers. The study was done double blind and was conducted as a test of induction of microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes during and after daily doses of 6 mg clemastine, 300 mg phenobarbital or a placebo. The urinary excretion of 6beta-hydroxycortisol and D-glucaric acid was significantly increased in the phenobarbital group, the standard for induction. No changes were observed after treatment with clemastine or placebo. Phenobarbital also reduced the half life of aminopyrine, but it was not affected by clemastine or placebo. Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity increased only in the phenobarbital group. The elimination constant k2 of aminopyrine and the excretion of glucaric acid in the pre-medication period were correlated (p less than 0.05) The results indicate that the tests were of diagnostic value in determination of microsomal enzyme induction by phenobarbital. Failure to observe similar changes after treatment with clemastine imply failure of induction of this activity under the experimental conditions.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids

p-Nitrophenol conjugation in perfused livers from normal and phenobarbital-treated rats: influence of nutritional state.

Conjugation of p-nitrophenol in perfused livers from control and phenobarbital-treated rats was measured spectrally by determining influent minus effluent concentration differences of the free drug. Rates of conjugation (1.0 to 2.0 mu moles/g/h) were essentially the same in livers from fasted control or fasted phenobarbital-treated rats. In control fed livers, rates of conjugation did not differ from the fasted state. However, rates of conjugation in livers from carbohydrate-rich, phenobarbital-treated rats were 6- to 10-fold greater than rates in livers from fasted phenobarbital-treated animals. Differences in rates of conjugation in phenobarbital-treated rats in different nutritional states were more closely related to carbohydrate reserves as indicated by glycogen levels than to activities of p-nitrophenyl UDP-glucuronyl transferase.

Adenine Nucleotides

Phenobarbital actions in vivo: effects on extra cellular potassium activity and oxidative metabolism in cat cerebral cortex.

Extracellular potassium activity and changes in the reduction levels of intramitochondrial pyridine nucleotide (NAD) and cytochrome-a,a3 were monitored in the cerebral cortex of cats at rest and during electrical stimulation, before and after administration of sodium phenobarbital. Stimulation of the cortical surface evoked a transient increase in the level of oxidized NAD which was proportional in magnitude to the associated transient elevation of extracellular potassium. Phenobarbital (i.v.) produced, within minutes, a persistent shift in NAD to a more reduced level indicative of decreased oxygen consumption. Electrical excitability of the cortex also decreased within minutes, although there was no concomitant change in the resting extracellular potassium activity. Cortical stimulation produced transient elevations of [K+]0 and NADH oxidation and these responses returned to base lines more slowly following the barbiturate administration. However, the proportionality between NADH oxidation and [K+]0 elevation was not altered by phenobarbital. The kinetics of the cytochrome-a, a3 response to cortical stimulation mirrored those of NADH, implying that phenobarbital was not blocking electron transport in the respiratory chain between NADH and cytochrome-a, a3 even at doses where "resting" tissue oxygen consumption was decreased. The prolongation of recovery metabolism following phenobarbital was interpreted as being the result of protracted elevation of extracellular potassium activity. The slow return to "resting" levels of extracellular potassium is probably caused by interference with passive clearance mechanisms.

Animals

Fluroxene toxicity induced by phenobarbital.

Because of reports of fluroxene toxicity in man, the effect of phenobarbital treatment on the toxicity and metabolism of fluroxene was studied in 9 rhesus monkeys. Six monkeys that were exposed to a mean calculated alveolar fluroxene concentration of 5.8% for 4-hr periods up to a total of 16 hr showed no evidence of toxicity. Two animals were sacrificed after a single 4-hr exposure to obtain control measures of fluroxene metabolites in tissues. Four monkeys that had previously survived received exposures to fluroxene and 3 monkeys that had no exposure to fluroxene died during fluroxene anesthesia after treatment with phenobarbital (mean time, 3 hr). Toxicity was manifested by arterial hypotension, pulmonary edema, and arterial hypoxemia. Phenobarbital treatment enhanced production of fluroxene metabolites, including the highly toxic trifluoroethanol. Concentrations of trifluoroethanol in mixed-expired gas, blood, and urine, and of total nonvolatile fluorine in blood, urine, and tissues of animals treated with phenobarbital were 2 to 10 times as in control animals. The results suggest that the rhesus monkey is a valuable model for the study of fluroxene pharmacology and that inclusion of an enzyme-inducing challenge in the evaluation of potential toxicity of other anesthetics seems warranted.

Anesthesia

Comparative pharmacokinetics of coumarin anticoagulants. XLII: Effect of phenobarbital on systemic availability of orally administered dicumarol in rats with ligated bile ducts.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the previously demonstrated inhibitory effect of phenobarbital treatment on the systemic availability of orally administered dicumarol in rats is related to the known effect of phenobarbital on bile output. It was found that phenobarbital had no apparent effect on the systemic availability of an aqueous dicumarol suspension in rats with ligated bile ducts. Compared to results obtained previously on normal rats, bile duct-ligated rats absorbed and eliminated dicumarol much more slowly and absorbed much less of the anticoagulant. On the other hand, the relative inductive effect of phenobarbital treatment on dicumarol elimination was similar in normal and in bile duct-ligated animals. The latter exhibited substantial serum transaminase elevations, indicative of liver damage presumably secondary to cholestasis. These results demonstrate that a drug-drug interaction can depend markedly on the pathophysiological status of the animals.

Animals

Induction of liver lysosomal enzymes during the autophagic phase following phenobarbital treatment of rat.

Phenobarbital was given to male rats as a single injection and as repetitive injections for 7 days. The effects of treatment on the lysosomal hydrolases acid phosphatase, cathepsin D, and aryl sulfatase were analyzed at different intervals ranging from 1 to 15 days after seven injections, and from 1 to 48 h after a single injection. In both cases, microsomal protein and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase were measured to ensure proper induction. After a single injection, a slight decrease in hydrolytic activities was observed. Repetitive administration of phenobarbital gave rise to a marked decrease of lysosomal enzyme activities 1 day after cessation of treatment. This decrease was followed by a continuous increase in activity up to day 3 and 4. One or 2 weeks after treatment, enzyme activities declined to control values. The increase in activity of lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes was correlated with the onset of induced autophagy of endoplasmic reticulum membranes described as occurring in liver upon cessation of phenobarbital exposure. It is concluded that phenobarbital treatment per se decreases lysosomal enzyme activities, whereas the induced autophagy following cessation of exposure is associated with enhanced levels of lysosomal hydrolases in rat liver.

Acid Phosphatase

Characterization of microsomal electron transport components from control, phenobarbital- and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated mice. II. Improved resolution and quantitation of major components in ammonium sulfate fractions from total liver microsomes.

Quantitation of microsomal components in ammonium sulfate fractions using a high-resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system, and a comparison of these results with those from similar experiments on total liver microsomes has enabled us to identify and better characterize the interactions between microsomal electron transport components. It was found that: (1) phenobarbital decreased the amount of one protein component of approximately 50 000 molecular weight while increasing a component of very similar molecular weight; (2) only two proteins appeared to be associated with CO binding; (3) another protein of approximately 68 000 molecular weight, one of the glycoproteins found in liver microsomes, appears to be induced by phenobarbital pretreatment; (4) the induction of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity after phenobarbital pretreatment is not dependent on an increase in the known NADPH-dependent flavoprotein, but rather on the increase in some component found predominately in our most soluble sub-microsomal fraction. A very good separation of the above components was achieved by ammonium sulfate fractionation, e.g. simply on the basis of their solubility. This and the fact that the more-or-less soluble proteins were induced by phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene respectively indicate that the solubility of membrane proteins plays a major role in the structure and function of microsomal membranes.

Ammonium Sulfate

The mode of action of phenobarbital on the excitable membrane of the node of Ranvier.

Single myelinated nerve fibres of Rana esculenta were investigated under current and potential clamp conditions at 20 degrees C. Under 2.5 mM phenobarbital, the amplitude of the action potential was reversibly reduced to 85.5 +/- 5% (n = 6), and the threshold potential was raised by 32% of the control in Ringer solution. The resting potential remained constant. Solutions with 2.5 mM phenobarbital caused a decrease of the Na current to 38.3 +/- 5.6% (n = 10), when the fibre had its holding potential before the test step. The effect was reversible at wash out of the drug. The Na currents were only negligibly decreased (7 +/- 4.5%; n = 10) when the test pulse was preceded by a long lasting negative polarization to Em = -140 mV. The effect of the conditioning polarization could be described by two time constants, tau 1 = 7.1 +/- 2.0 msec and tau 2 = 44.5 +/- 9.5 msec (n = 5). Experiments with 500 msec conditioning pulses showed that the Na inactivation curve, h infinity(Em), was shifted in a negative direction along the potential axis. In the range between 0.5 and 5.0 mM phenobarbital there was a shift of 8 mV for an e-fold change in drug concentration. 15 mM Ca2+ caused a shift to the h infinity(Em) curve in a positive direction along the potential axis, while simultaneous application of 2.5 mM phenobarbital and 15 mM Ca2+ caused no shift of the h afinity(Em) curve. The undissociated drug seemed to be responsible for the effects (pK = 7.3).

Action Potentials

Differential effects of phenobarbital and pentobarbital on isolated nervous tissue.

Epileptiform after discharges evoked by repetitive electrical stimulation of chronically isolated cortical slabs (cat) were shortened by low doses of phenobarbital but not affected by hypnotic doses of pentobarbital. Both pentobarbital and phenobarbital raised threshold and lowered spike amplitude in isolated sciatic nerves. The action of both drugs was increased by reducing Na in the medium and by decreasing the Ringer's pH. Similar to the action of other general anesthetics, the axonal effect of pentobarbital was enhanced by D2O replacement for H2O in the Ringer's (suggesting that tissue water is involved in pentobarbital action), whereas D2O replacement did not modify the action of phenobarbital or of local anesthetics. These results suggest that the varying in vivo effects of pentobarbital and phenobarbital may be due to a difference in their action upon excitable membranes (rather than to a different regional distribution in brain).

Animals