Oxidative stress associated hepatic and renal toxicity induced by ricin in mice.
Ricin a glycoprotein from the Ricinus communis seeds, is known to have diverse toxic effects on cells of different visceral organs. We have studied the hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and oxidative stress following i.p. administration of ricin (25 microg/kg) in Swiss albino male mice. The results of this study revealed that activities of various enzymes like glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were increased in plasma, liver, and kidney tissues indicating damage in liver and kidney. Blood urea level was also increased. However, blood creatinine and bilirubin were not altered. Lipid peroxidation increased to 49 and 25% in hepatic and renal tissue. Total non-protein sulfhydryl content decreased in plasma (12%), hepatic (29%), and renal (16%) tissues. Superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly in liver (43%) and kidney (37%). The activity of glutatione peroxidase was also decreased. The decrease was more prominent in kidney than liver. A significant increase, 20 to 27% in the activity of catalase was observed in plasma, liver, and kidney. These results indicate that ricin produces hepatoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and oxidative damage at 24 h of post treatment. The hepatotoxicity was more prominent than nephrotoxicity.
Kumar
O
O
Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior 474002, India. pharm_tox@yahoo.co.in
Sugendran
K
K
Vijayaraghavan
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012276:Ricin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D012278:Ricinus
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D004798:Enzymes; D012276:Ricin