Increased lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity in methionine-induced hepatitis in rabbits.
The liver is especially susceptible to the toxic effects of methionine due to its role in sulfur amino acid metabolism. Therefore, the excessive amounts of this amino acid may induce liver damage. To test the mechanisms of methionine-related hepatotoxicity, liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase were measured in rabbits fed a methionine-enriched diet for 6 or 9 mo. Morphological studies of livers were also made. Feeding rabbits the methionine-enriched diet for 9 mo resulted in a significant increase in liver TBARS levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. Moreover, an inflammatory infiltration of portal triads in the treated rabbits were observed. These results indicate that methionine may induce hepatitis by increasing free radical processes.
Toborek
M
M
Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Silesian Medical Academy, Medyków, Poland.
Kopieczna-Grzebieniak
E
E
Drózdz
M
M
Wieczorek
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine; D011817:Rabbits; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008715:Methionine; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D012643:Selenium