Hepatic drug metabolism and the activities of NADPH generating enzymes and glucose-6-phosphatase in phenobarbital treated genetically obese (ob/ob) mice.

We aim to evaluate the effects of phenobarbital (PB) on the liver drug metabolism, NADPH production capacity and terminal gluconeogenic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) activity in the diabetic state associated with genetic obesity in mice. The results showed that PB treatment increased the amount of liver total cytochrome P450 (cytP450), a drug metabolizing monooxygenase enzyme in genetically obese, hyperglycemic (ob/ob) mice 6-fold and the total activities of other monooxygenase enzymes NADPH cytP450 reductase and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (ERDE) 2- and 6.5-fold, respectively. In addition, the regimen increased the liver total activities of two NADPH generating enzymes, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) and malic enzyme (ME) in obese mice suggesting that the regimen enhanced liver NADPH production capacity in the animals. The data further showed that PB treatment decreased the high hepatic G6Pase activity in obese mice. Both enhanced NADPH generating enzyme activities and lowered G6Pase activity may suppress hepatic glucose output. Since NADPH is required for drug oxidation reactions as a reducing cofactor, high NADPH generating capacity may facilitate liver drug metabolism in vivo. Although the diabetic state in obese mice differs somewhat from that seen in non-insulin dependent diabetic subjects (NIDDs), these findings provide some knowledge about the possible biochemical mechanisms whereby PB treatment normalizes drug metabolism and glycemic control in NIDDs, as has been noted in previous studies.