Biological agents liver function

In addition to the endogenous metabolites, some exogenous sterols possess biological activity similar to that of D3. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is derived from the plant sterol ergosterol and may act as a substrate for both the 25-hydroxylase and the 1-hydroxylase enzyme systems of the liver and kidney to form 25-(OH)D2 and 1,25-(0H)2 D2, respectively. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is the form used in commercial vitamins and supplemented dairy products. Dihydrotachysterol, another sterol that is used as a therapeutic agent, also functions as a substrate for the hydroxylase enzymes in the liver and kidney. 

The blood lead level is a good index of current or recent lead absorption when there is no anemia present and when the worker has not taken any chelating agents. However, blood lead levels along with urinary lead levels do not necessarily indicate the total body burden of lead and are not adequate measures of past exposure. One reason for this is that lead has a high affinity for bone and up to 90 percent of the body s total lead is deposited there. A very important component of the total lead body burden is lead in soft tissue (liver, kidney, and brain). This fraction of the lead body burden, the biologically active lead, is not entirely reflected by blood lead levels since it is a function of the dynamics of lead absorption, distribu-... 

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