Subacute Effect of Decabromodiphenyl Ethane on Hepatotoxicity and Hepatic Enzyme Activity in Rats

Information regarding decabromodiphenyl ethane （DBDPE） effects on hepatotoxicity and metabolism is limited. In the present study, Wistar rats were given oral DBDPE at different doses. DBDPE induced oxidative stress, elevated blood glucose levels, increased CYP2B2 mRNA, CYP2B1/2 protein, 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase （PROD） activity, and induced CYP3A2 mRNA, CYP3A2 protein, and luciferin benzylether debenzylase （LBD） activity. UDPGT activity increased with its increasing exposure levels, suggesting that oral DBDPE exposure induces drug-metabolizing enzymes in rats via the CAR/PXR signaling pathway. The induction of CYPs and co-regulated enzymes of phase II biotransformation may affect the homeostasis of endogenous substrates, including thyroid hormones, which may, in turn, alter glucose metabolism.

Effect of acute alcoholism on hepatic enzymes and oxidation/antioxidation in rats

BACKGROUND: Around the world more and more people suffer from acute alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to determine hepatic enzymes and oxidation/antioxidation in rats with acute alcoholism. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into three groups; control, low-dose alcohol, and high-dose alcohol. Each al- cohol group ( n = 12) was intravenously infused with etha- nol at a dose of 0.3 or 0.7 g/kg body weight respectively. The control group (n =11) was intravenously infused with normal saline at a dose of 0.5 g/kg body weight. Blood was collected for detection of hepatic enzymes and index of oxidation/antioxidation. RESULTS: The ratio of AST to ALT was 2.44±0.46, 2.57± 0.60 and 3.03 ±0.46 in the three groups, and the difference was significant between the control and high-dose alcohol groups (P^0.05). No significant changes were observed in the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspar- tate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (Tp), albumin (Alb), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholinesterase (ChE), total bilirubin (TB), C-reactive protein (CRP) and amy- lase. The levels of serum nitric oxide (NO) in the 3 groups were 39.2 ±73.25 mol/L, 42.30 ±4.60 mol/L and 47.86± 4.66 mol/L, and significant difference was seen between the control group and the high-dose alcohol group (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found in the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondiethylaldehyde (MDA), and CRP in the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: The ratio of AST to ALT appears to be a useful index for acute alcohol intoxication. NO is involved in the mechanism of acute alcohol intoxication.

Effects of phenanthrene on hepatic enzymatic activities in tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus ♀×O.aureus ♂)

The effects of phenanthrene（Phe） on hepatosomatic index（HSI） and hepatic enzymatic activities in hybrid tilapia（Oreochromis niloticus ♀× O.aureus ♂） were investigated via the static freshwater exposure at dosage of 50,100,and 400 μg/L for 4-14 d.Compared with the control group,HSI was significantly decreased（P 〈 0.05） at 400 μg/L at day 14.Increased enzymatic activities（P 〈 0.05） were observed for catalase（CAT）,glutathione peroxidase（GPx） and superoxide dismutase（SOD） at either 100 or 400 μg/L at day 8 and 14,as well as for CAT at 50 μg/L at day 14,except for GPx at 400 μg/L at day 8.Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase（EROD） activity was significantly increased（P 〈 0.05） at all dosage at day 4 as well as at 50 μg/L at day 8,but significantly decreased at either 100 or 400 μg/L at day 14（P 〈 0.05）.Glutathione-S-transferase（GST） activity was not affected.The results suggest that CAT,GPx,SOD and EROD,as well as HSI in tilapia may be used as the biomarkers or indexes for evaluating or monitoring the pollution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons（PAHs） such as Phe.

THE ROLE OF ENALAPRIL IN PATHOGENESIS OF CCL_4 INDUCED HEPATIC FIBROSIS

Objective The present study was designed to examine whether the renin-angiotensin system would be implicated in the development of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCI4. The effects of enalapril on the ex-pression of platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) in liver tissue were also investigated. Methods 50 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into S groups (control group, model group, and 3 enalapril treated groups). Except rats of the model group, all rats received subcutanous injection of 40% CC14 (every 3d for 6 weeks). Rats of enalapril treated groups were given enalapril (10mg/kg, 5mg/kg, 2.5mg/kg per day, orally)for 6 weeks before they were killed. Serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LW) were de-termined by radioimmunoassay techniques. Van Gieson collagen staining was used to evaluate the extracellular matrix of the liver. The expressions of PDGFR and a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) were confirmed by im-munohistochemical methods. Results Compared with those in the model gr oup, it was found in enalapril treated groups: (1) serum levels of collagen type 1V and LN were significantly reduced (P< 0. 01); (2) the pro-gression of fibrosis was delayed (P < 0. 01); (3) the expressions of PDGFR and a-SMA were decreased. Conclusion The renin-angiotensin system was involved in the development of hepatic fibrosis induced by Cd4. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and enalapril could slow down the rate of hepatic fibrosis. This effect might be due to the ability of this drug in suppressing the expression of PDGFR of liver tissue.

Establishment of a nonradioactive assay for 2′5′oligoadenylate synthetase and its application in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon-α

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Assessment of dietary chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) fruit extract on growth performance, hemato-biochemical parameters, and mRNA levels of growth and appetite-related genes in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

In this study,the effect of oral administration of chaste tree fruit(CTF)extract was evaluated on growth performance,hematological indices,serum biochemical parameters,and the expression of growth and appetite-related genes in goldfish(Carassius auratus).The fry(N=300;2.40±0.12 g)were randomly dispersed into 12 aquaria and fed with different levels of CTF extract(0(control),0.5%,1.0%,and 1.5%)for 56 days.At the end of the trial,the highest body weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio were observed in the fish fed with 1.5%CTF extract(P<0.05).The group fed with CTF extract at 1.5%showed the highest levels of red blood cell,hemoglobin,hematocrit,and serum albumin(P<0.05),while no significant changes were observed for mean corpuscular volume,mean hemoglobin,and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration among all groups(P>0.05).The levels of aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were decreased by increasing the supplementation levels of CTF extract and the lowest values were obtained in 1.5%CTF extract diet(P<0.05).The expression of growth hormone,insulin-like growth factor 1,and ghrelin genes was significantly up-regulated in the fish fed with 1.5%CTF extract compared to other treatments(P<0.05).Overall,the enrichment of goldfish diet with 1.5%CTF extract could interfere positively in the growth-related traits and hematological parameters.