An Effect of Methanethiol Treatment on the Liver Function of Rats Previously Fed Low or High Protein Diet

단백식이 조건을 달리하여 성장한 흰쥐에 Methanethiol 투여가 간기능에 미치는 영향

To evaluate an effect of dietary protein on the intoxication of methanethiol in rats, the methanethiol was intraperitoneally injected to the rats fed a low or high protein diet and then the liver weight per body weight and seurm levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were determined to investigate the differences in liver damage between the animal groups fed low protein diet and that fed high protein diet. On the other hand, the hepatic glutathione content and its conjugating enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity were determined to clarify the cause of difference in liver function between the two groups. The increasing rate of liver weigh/body wt., serum levels of ALT to its control group were higher in methanethiol-treated rats fed low protein diet than those fed high protein diet. The hepatic content of glutathione and GST activity were higher in rats fed high protein diet than those fed low protein diet and the decreasing rate of hepatic glu-tathione content to its control group was higher in rats fed low protein diet than those fed high protein diet. Furthermore, the hepatic GST activity in methanethiol-treated rats was higher in rats fed high protein diet than those fed low protein diet. In case of control group, the GST activity was also higher in rats fed high protein diet than those fed low protein diet.

식이성단백이 methanethiol에 의한 간기능에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 검토코자 흰쥐를 저단백식이(LP : casein 7%) 및 고단백식이 (HP : casein 20%)로 1개월간 성장시킨 뒤 methanethiol을 투여한 다음, 간무게, 혈청 ALT 활성을 측정하여 간기능 정도를 두 군간에 비교하였다. 동시에 이에 대한 원인을 규명하는 일환으로 간조직 중 glutahione함량과 glutathione 포함효소의 일종인 glutathione S-transferase (GST)활성을 측정하여 다음과 같은 실험 결과를 얻었다. Methanethiol 투여로 인한 대조군에 대한 간무게와 혈청 ALT활성 증가율은 LP군이 HP군보다 높았으며, 간 glutathione함량과 간 GST활성이 HP군 보다 LP군이 낮게 나타났다. 이상 성적을 종합해 볼 때 methanethiol에 의한 간 독성은 식이 중 단백함량감소에 비례해서 증가되며 이는 LP군이 HP군 보다 methanethiol해독에 관여하는 간 glutathione함량과 GST활성의 감소에 기인되기 때문인 것으로 생각된다.