Developmental pattern of glucuronide formation in rat and guinea pig liver

Abstract

o-Aminophenol (OAP) glucuronide formation by liver slices from fetal and newborn Wistar rats up to 70 hr old is equivalent to or greater than OAP glucuronide formation by liver slices from adult rats. OAP glucuronide formation by homogenates of liver from 3-day-old rats, and slices or homogenates of liver from 3-day-old guinea pigs is substantially less than that observed in comparable preparations of adult liver. These observations suggest that glucuronidation is deficient in newborn guinea pigs but not in newborn rats. Although the mechanisms responsible for these differences are unknown, the possibility is discussed that disruption of rat liver cells reduces glucuronide formation by activation of an inhibitor.