Depression of murine hepatic mixed function oxidase during infection with Listeria monocytogenes

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a virulent gram positive bacterium which causes an acute, sublethal infection in mice. Animals usually recover from infection within five to seven days. Infection with Listeria monocytogenes can result in septicemia, meningitis, endocarditis and abortion . The level of cytochrome P-450 and the oxidation of aminopyrine and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase was depressed in hepatic microsomes prepared from mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Maximal depression of mixed function oxidase occurred on the second day of infection. This loss of drug biotransformation capacity in the liver was directly correlated with bacterial content in the liver. The ability of mice to metabolize drugs in vivo was also impaired during infection. During the infective period, the serum half-life of theophylline was significantly prolonged and N-demethylation of aminopyrine as measured by the expiration of 14co2 from radiolabelled aminopyrine was diminished.