Alterations in hepatic metabolism of adult male rats following exposure to hydroxyprogesterone during embryonic development.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of in utero exposure to hydroxyprogesterone (HP) on liver metabolism in adult male albino rats.


METHODS
Pregnant Wistar strain albino rats were exposed to supra-normal levels (10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg) of HP on days 1, 7 and 14 of pregnancy. The male pups were maintained under controlled conditions and the rats were killed 90 days after birth. The liver tissue was immediately excised, weighed and used for biochemical assays.


RESULTS
The activity levels of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and aminotransaminases were significantly increased in the livers of rats exposed to HP during embryonic development. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity level was significantly decreased in the liver of experimental rats. Furthermore, there was a significant elevation of activity levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione S-transferase [GST] and catalase [CAT]) with an increased lipid peroxidation in the hepatic tissue of experimental rats compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study suggest that there is an increase in the oxidative metabolism, antioxidative mechanism and levels of lipid peroxidation in rats exposed to HP during embryonic development. The increased aminotransaminase activities in these rats reveal tissue damage and disruption of mitochondrial integrity.
Pushpalatha
T
T
Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517 502, India.
Reddy
P Ramachandra
PR
Reddy
P Sreenivasula
PS
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000637:Transaminases / Q000378:metabolism
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D002374:Catalase; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D000637:Transaminases