The Effect of Diethylnitrosamine on the Levels of Sialic Acid, Lipid-Bound Sialic Acid and Enzyme Activities of Transferase in Rat Serum

Authors: ŞEYDA ŞAHİN, GÜLHAN TÜRKMEN

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a chemical carcinogen, Diethylnitrosamine (DENA), on these markers, sialic acid (SA), lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA) and the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase. In this research 180 male Wistar albino rats were used. Rats were divided equally into three groups. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of saline was given to rats in the control group. Treatment group I was given i.p. 100 mg/kg-body weight DENA dissolved in saline. Treatment group II was given i.p. 200 mg/kg-body-weight DENA dissolved in saline. These doses were given to each group just once. Blood samples were taken from fifteen rats, which were chosen randomly from each group per month during the four months. Levels of SA and LBSA and activities of ALT, AST and GGT were determined in serum. Significant elevations in the serum levels of SA and LBSA and activities of ALT, AST and GGT were observed in treatment groups when compared with the controls. In this study, the high levels of enzyme activities, sialic acid, and lipid-bound sialic acid led to hepatocellular degeneration. The results suggest that combined evaluation of these markers (SA and LBSA) and liver enzyme activities can be useful in predicting malignant change.

Keywords: Diethylnitrosamine, sialic acid, lipid-bound sialic acid, liver enzymes, rats.

Full Text: PDF