Influence of zinc sulfate intake on acute ethanol-induced liver injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of metallothionein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) on the morphological and biochemical effects of zinc sulfate in ethanol-induced liver injury.


METHODS
Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Group I; intact rats, group II; control rats given only zinc, group III; animals given absolute ethanol, group IV; rats given zinc and absolute ethanol. Ethanol-induced injury was produced by the 1 mL of absolute ethanol, administrated by gavage technique to each rat. Animals received 100 mg/kg per day zinc sulfate for 3 d 2 h prior to the administration of absolute ethanol.


RESULTS
Increases in metallothionein immunoreactivity in control rats given only zinc and rats given zinc and ethanol were observed. PCNA immunohistochemistry showed that the number of PCNA-positive hepatocytes was increased significantly in the livers of rats administered ethanol + zinc sulfate. Acute ethanol exposure caused degenerative morphological changes in the liver. Blood glutathione levels decreased, serum alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase activities increased in the ethanol group when compared to the control group. Liver glutathione levels were reduced, but lipid peroxidation increased in the livers of the group administered ethanol as compared to the other groups. Administration of zinc sulfate in the ethanol group caused a significant decrease in degenerative changes, lipid peroxidation, and alkaline phosphatase and aspartate transaminase activities, but an increase in liver glutathione.


CONCLUSIONS
Zinc sulfate has a protective effect on ethanol-induced liver injury. In addition, cell proliferation may be related to the increase in metallothionein immunoreactivity in the livers of rats administered ethanol + zinc sulfate.
Bolkent
Sema
S
Department of Medical Biology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa 34098, Istanbul, Turkey. bolkent@istanbul.edu.tr
Arda-Pirincci
Pelin
P
Bolkent
Sehnaz
S
Yanardag
Refiye
R
Tunali
Sevim
S
Yildirim
Sukriye
S
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D000431:Ethanol; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D008668:Metallothionein; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005978:Glutathione