EFFECTS OF DIETARY GLUTEN ON THE HEPATOTOXIC ACTION OF GALACTOSAMINE AND OR ENDOTOXIN IN RATS/

This study was done to clarify the effects of dietary wheat gluten on the hepatotoxic action of D-galactosamine (GalN) and endotoxin (Etx). Male Wistar rats fed a high casein or high gluten (supplemented with L -Lys and L-Thr) diet were injected with GalN or Etx, and the plasma gl utamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, an d lactase dehydrogenase activities were examined 20 h later. In rats f ed the high gluten diet, these enzyme activities were lower than in th e high casein group after injection of 800 mg/kg of GalN. But such a d ifference between the casein and gluten groups was not clear when they were treated with 400 mg/kg of GalN nor observed even after injection of Etx or Etx + GalN (400 mg/kg). Similarly these was no difference i n the plasma concentrations of Etx, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or in terferon-gamma in the rats receiving an injection of 800 mg/kg of GalN between both dietary groups. These results suggest that dietary glute n affords protection against hepatic injury by a high dose of GalN but not by a low dose of GalN and/or Etx.