Haptoglobin, albumin, glucose-6-phosphatase, p-nitrophenol uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase and cytochrome P-450 were measured in liver microsomes from normal rats and from rats undergoing an acute inflammatory reaction (AIR) induced either by subcutaneous administration of turpentine or by intrapleural injection of calcium pyrophosphate. 24 h after the beginning of the AIR induced by subcutaneous administration of turpentine, haptoglobin and albumin, two exported proteins, had risen to a peak (+313%), and dropped considerably (-52%) whereas nonexported protein levels did not change except for cytochrome P-450, which diminished (-38%). In the same way, intrapleural injection of calcium pyrophosphate was followed after 24 h by significant but smaller variations in haptoglobin (+60%) and cytochrome P-450 (-20%) concentrations. Albumin levels, glucose-6-phosphatase and p-nitrophenol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities were unchanged in this experimental model. The drop in cytochrome P-450 under all these conditions and also the diminution of albumin in the first model suggest that all the proteins produced by liver cells might not be synthesized in equal amounts. The decrease in cytochrome P-450 could interfere in hepatic drug metabolism during an AIR.