Time-course of hepatic cytochrome p450 subfamily induction by chronic carbamazepine treatment in rats.

Recent studies indicate that carbamazepine (CBZ) induces hepatic cytochrome p450 (CYP) protein subfamilies. The present study examines the time-course of the appearance of hepatic CYP subfamilies (2B, 3A) and serum levels of CBZ and its metabolite, CBZ epoxide (CBZE), induced by CBZ treatment in rats. Male Wistar rats were given 5 g of CBZ (CBZ-treated) per 1 kg of feed for 3, 7, 14, 28 and 42 d or feed without CBZ (control).