The effect of cirrhosis on basal and induced MROD (CYP1A2) activities is also similar to that observed on mRNA and protein expression of CYP1A2 since, a) as the severity of liver dysfunction increases, basal MROD activity decreases to a level as low as 30% of that in healthy animals; b) the induction of MROD activity is preserved in rats with non-ascitic cirrhosis, whereas it is drastically reduced (by more than 70%) in ascitic rats. This evidence concerns the gene CYP1A2 and Decreased liver function.