ABSTRACT
The behaviour of gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) in rat liver, serum and intestinal mucosa under the effect of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was studied. The investigation was carried out in order to evaluate gamma-GT as a biological parameter in experimental HCG porphyria. HCB was administered by gavage at daily doses of 3.5 mmol/kg body wt for 60 days or 90 days. gamma-GT in liver homogenate progressively increased during the treatment. Following a 60-day exposure the enzymatic activity exceeded the values of the controls by more than 60 times. The rise of serum gamma-GT was more moderately expressed (5--6-fold). gamma-GT in jejunal mucosa was elevated 2-fold after a 90-day treatment. The termination of the daily intoxication reduced back to normal values the enzymatic activity in liver and in intestine as measured after 60 days from the cessation of HCB application. It can be pointed out, that gamma-GT is a sensitive and valuable marker for experimental HCB intoxication.
Subject(s)
Chlorobenzenes/poisoning , Hexachlorobenzene/poisoning , gamma-Glutamyltransferase/metabolism , Animals , Intestinal Mucosa/enzymology , Liver/enzymology , Male , Porphyrins/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Inbred Strains , Time Factors , gamma-Glutamyltransferase/bloodABSTRACT
The activity of gamma-GT in rat intestinal mucosa has been studied during normal development. No significant differences in enzymatic activity have been recorded between 21-day-old fetuses, neonates tested at 3, 10, 20 and 30 days and older animals (65 days). Only in the period immediately prior to birth did the liver gamma-GT display activity levels similar to those of intestinal gamma-GT. In neonates and in adult rats, the intestinal gamma-GT activity was much higher as compared to the enzymatic activity in the liver, possibly revealing a species feature in rats. The results of the studies show that the rat is particularly suitable for experimental studies on intestinal gamma-GT in pathological conditions.
