This study was done to determine whether specific alterations exist in hepatic microsomal function after varying periods of ischemia (IS) and reperfusion (RP) during microsomal lipid peroxidation occurs. Rats were pretreated with $alpha$-tocopherol to inhibit lipid peroxidation or with vehicle (soybean oil). Control animals were time-matched sham-ischemic animals. Four groups of animals were studied: Group 1 (sham), group 2 (30 mins IS), group 3 (60 mins IS) and group 4 (90 mins IS). After 1, 5 or 24 hr of reperfusion, liver microsomes were isolated and cytochrome P-450s were studied. In all vehicle-treated ischemic rats, serum ALT levels peaked at 5 hr and were significantly reduced by $alpha$-tocopherol pretreatment. Similarly, microsomal lipid peroxidation was elevated in all vehicle-treated ischemic animal groups, but this elevation was prevented by $alpha$-tocopherol pretreatment. Cytochrome P-450 content was significantly decreased in both group 3 and group 4. In all vehicle-treated ischemic animal groups, aminopyrine N-demethylase activity was significantly decreased for the entire reperfusion period. $alpha$-Tocopherol inhibited reductions of cytochrome P-450 content and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity at both 1 hr and 5hr of reperfusion but did not affect the reduced levels of cytochrome P-450 content and aminopyrine N-demethylase activity at 24 hr of reperfusion. Aniline p-hydroxylase activity was significantly decreased in group 4, whereas it was increased in group 3. These decreases and increases were prevented by $alpha$-tocopherol pretreatment. Our finding suggests that abnormalities in microsomal drug metabolizing function occur during hepatic ischemia and reperfusion in vivo and this is attributed to microsomal lipid peroxidation.