title: Plasma retinol binding protein for monitoring the acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.
abstract: Retinol-binding protein (RBP) is a specific transport protein which carries retinol in the circulation. RBP concentration in plasma and liver of rats following a large dose of acetaminophen (APAP) intraperitoneally was examined. The RBP concentration in plasma decreased significantly at 12 hr after the APAP administration, while the plasma albumin concentration was affected a little. Western blot and northern blot analyses showed marked changes in RBP but not in albumin. Thus, RBP was suggested to be more sensitive for the acute drug-induced hepatotoxicity than albumin. The decrease of RBP concentration in plasma was suggested to be caused by the dysfunction of RBP synthesis in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isozaki
authors.forename: Kousei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masubuchi
authors.forename: Toshiharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horie