Characterization of lung microsomes as related to drug metabolism. Drug Metab. Dispos

The endoplasmic reticulum of mammalian liver hepatocytes contains an oxygen- and NADPH-dependent mixed function oxidase sys-tern which metabolizes a wide variety of lipophilic compounds of both exogenous and endogenous origin. It is commonly accepted that the liven is the major site of xenobiotic biotransformation in animals, including man. However, several cx-trahepatic tissues, such as lung, kidney, placenta, and skin of some species, also have detectable MFO ’ activity. Our interest in the pulmonary system arises from the possibility that lung may play a significant role in the biotransformation of airborne organic pollutants which use this organ as an entry portal into the body