Determination of ornithine carbamyl transferase with microdiffusion technique

Hypomagnesaemia and muscle electrolytes and metabolites

Ten patients, aged 39-61 years, with hypomagnesaemia due to chronic alcoholism (7 cases) or malabsorption (3 cases), have been investigated by assessing the maximum isometric voluntary contraction force (MVC) of the quadriceps femoris muscle (7 cases), laboratory screening (9 cases) and estimating the electrolyte and metabolite content of biopsy specimens from the quadriceps femoris muscle. The MVC ranged from 0.5 to 34 kp and was significantly lower than in 12 apparently healthy normomagnesaemic controls (p is less than 0.001). The results of the laboratory screening, apart from a significant lowering of the serum magnesium concentration (p is less than 0.01), were mainly within the range of normal values, apart from signs of liver damage, such as an elevated activity of S-OCT (3 cases), alkaline phosphatease(3 cases), S-ALAT (1 case) and an elevation of bilirubin and blood ammonia (2 cases). Low serum iron-binding capacity occurred in 4 cases, a finding reported in protein-calorie malnutrition. Muscle magnesium content was significantly lower than in healthy controls (p is less than 0.001). Muslce sodium and chloride contents were significantly increased (p is less than 0.05). Total H2O content and the extracellular H2O content were both significantly increased (p is less than 0.05). Pyruvate and lactate values were within the normal range. The apparent equilibrium constant for creatine kinase differed significantly ( is less than 0.01). ATP values were within the normal range, but there were slight decreases for ADP (p is less than 0.05) and creatine phosphate ( is less than 0.01), whcih is of interest in view of the lowering of the MVC and the diminished capacity for sustained muscular effort in hypomagnesaemic patients reported earlier.

Adenosine partially prevents cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

Adenosine administration was tested in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis and was able to partially prevent the enlargement of liver and spleen induced by the toxin. This amelioration of the hepatomegaly was accompanied by a 50% reduction of the liver collagen deposition and preservation of content of glycosaminoglycans. A stimulated hepatic collagenase activity is apparently the mechanism for reduction of collagen accumulation. These effects were associated with a striking improvement in liver function. Adenosine treatment did not modify the late hepatotoxic effect of the carbon tetrachloride; however, the stimulatory effect of the nucleoside on energy state appeared to counteract the drastic decreases in adenine nucleotides, ATP, ATP/ADP ratio and energy charge elicited by the hepatotoxin. Moreover, a possible beneficial action of enhanced hepatic oxygenation caused by the vasodilator properties of adenosine cannot be ruled out. Regardless of the mechanism, adenosine seems to change the cellular response to the injury induced by the hepatotoxin.

Diagnostic value of liver function tests in bile duct obstruction

Serological tests may be of value in differentiating acute and chronic bile duct obstruction because the rate of alteration of hepatic cellular integrity and function will affect the rate of cellular product release. In a canine model the common bile duct was obstructed either suddenly (N = 7) or gradually (N = 5). A control group (N = 5) had the common bile duct dissected free from the surrounding tissues. Blood was taken before and 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 14, 17, 21, and 28 days after initiating obstruction. Serum alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, ornithine carbamyl transferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were significantly greater with sudden compared to gradual occlusion, and the values were larger than those in the control. The range of values of alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase did not overlap in the acute and chronic groups at specific times. Serum albumin and total protein were normal in all groups. The magnitude of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin elevation may help in the differentiation of acute and chronic biliary obstruction.

Serum and liver enzyme changes in rats after short term exposure to dichlorvos

Rat serum and liver ICDH, OCT, GOT and GPT activities are significantly elevated 2-6 hr after i.p. injections of single doses (2.5 mg/kg body wt) of dichlorvos. ICDH, OCT, GOT and GPT activities are significantly increased in serum and liver of rats receiving daily injections (0.25 mg/kg body wt) for 7 days. Although liver SD is significantly elevated in the single and repeated dosage study, serum SD appears unaffected at these levels of dichlorvos toxicity. Changes in serum OCT activity estimations maybe a useful single parameter for screening pesticides for potential hepatotoxic effects in humans and farm animals.

Effect of benzyl chloride on rat liver functions

Benzyl chloride (BCL) is extensively used in industry for the manufacture of dyes, perfumes, and pharmaceutical products. A previous study from this laboratory revealed the presence of liver steatosis of the microvesicular type and central focal inflammation in rats following the inhalation of BCL. This study was conducted to investigate the hepatotoxicity of intravenous (iv) BCL in rat. BCL (250, 25, and 0 micrograms/kg) was administered (iv) to rats, and serum enzyme tests were used to evaluate hepatic injury. After 10 min from BCL administration, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase activities were significantly increased compared to the control group, while the values returned to normal within 1 h from the administration of BCL. Also, ornithine carbamyltransferase enzyme activity was significantly increased and reached a maximum as early as 0.5 h from the administration of BCL. Hepatic excretory function was investigated by the clearance of bromosulfophthalein (BSP) after 0.5 and 24 h from the administration of BCL. The clearance of BSP in both treatments was significantly slower compared to control group throughout the 24 h studied. Furthermore, BCL significantly decreased liver and blood glutathione values. This study revealed that BCL has the potential to cause hepatomalfunction.