ABSTRACT
Effect of acrolein (2.5 mg/kg body wt/day) on the rat liver antioxidant defense system was investigated. Following 45 days of acrolein exposure, the levels of glutathione, ascorbic acid and the activity of catalase were decreased whereas the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were increased. The increase in the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the acrolein treated rats showed oxidative damage. The results indicate that acrolein interferes with the antioxidant defense system of rat liver.
Subject(s)
Acrolein/pharmacology , Animals , Antioxidants/metabolism , Liver/drug effects , Male , RatsABSTRACT
The muscle collagen of marine prawn, Penaeus indicus, was isolated by limited pepsin digestion. Based on selective salt precipitation, amino acid composition and gel electrophoretic pattern, the major collagen was found to be a homotrimer of á 1 chain, similar to type V collagen of vertebrates. Electron microscopy of reconstituted fibrils, made for the first time from a crustacean species, revealed a characteristic 64 nm periodicity. Biochemical studies indicate a less than normal amount of associated carbohydrates and an increased alanine content The major collagen had a denaturation temperature of 37°C with an intrinsic viscosity of 11·3 dl/g. Spectral characteristics of the major collagen were studied. Results suggest the presence of genetically distinct collagen types and acid resistant cross links in crustacean muscle.