Ma. Khandkar et al., IS ACTIVATION OF LYSOSOMAL-ENZYMES RESPONSIBLE FOR PARACETAMOL-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY AND NEPHROTOXICITY, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 48(4), 1996, pp. 437-440
Paracetamol overdose (300 mg kg(-1)) in mice resulted in a time-depend
ent increase in the liver weight; no change was seen for the kidney. T
he total acid phosphatase activities in the two tissues increased sign
ificantly 0.5h after paracetamol overdose and remained elevated up to
3h. Free as well as total cathepsin D activities increased significant
ly in both the tissues within 2-2.5 h of paracetamol treatment. Simult
aneously tyrosine positive materials in the two tissues increased. RNA
se II and DNAse II activities were low in liver and kidneys of the con
trols. Paracetamol treatment elevated both free and total RNAse II act
ivity in the two tissues by 0.5 h. Maximum activity of DNAse II (free
and total) was seen at 2.5 h after paracetamol administration. The res
ults suggest that concerted action of cathepsin D, RNAse II and DNAse
II may be responsible for paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity and nephr
otoxicity.