Induction of Drug Metabolism can be a Homeostatic Response

The invasion of the body by toxic agents, in addition to the specific effects, causes a stereotype non‐specific response ‐stress‐, and an adaptive phenomenon like drug metabolism. Reserpine or hydrocortisone, causing a typical stress response, produce increased plasma concentrations of corticosterone in rats. ‐ Here it is shown that corticosterone administration once, or for three days twice daily (200 μmoles/kg) increase body resistance to zoxazolamine, methyprylon, and tetraethylammonium bromide, reduce their plasma concentrations and augment zoxazolamine, hexobarbital, and aniline in vitro drug metabolism (9000 g liver supernatant). This constitutes a good evidence that drug metabolism can be induced in response to need.