EFFECTS OF CHRONIC GRAYANOTOXIN-I ADMINISTRATION ON HEPATIC AND RENALFUNCTIONS IN RATS

Effects of chronic grayanotoxin-I (GTX-I) administration have been inv estigated on hepatic and renal functions in rats. Fourtyfive 12-15 wee k old Swiss Albino male rats, weighing 170-300 g were housed at 23-25 degrees C and fed with standard diet for a period of 3 months. The rat s were divided into 3 groups of 15 animals each. Animals in group 1 re ceived i.p. GTX-I at a dose of 0.075 mg/kg daily for 3 months. Group 2 received i.p. GTX-I at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg daily and control rats re ceived i.p. saline solution (0.9%) only, for 3 months.;it the end of t he 3 month experimental duration, urine analysis (leukocytes, urobilin ogen, protein, pH, blood, ketone, glucose, nitrites), was performed. T hen the animals were sacrified and serum was obtained for the followin g determinations: the activities of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT ), gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT), isoenzymes of lactate dehydr ogenase (LDH) (as a percentage of total LDH) and transferrin, cerulopl asmin, total protein concentrations. In addition histopathologic chang es in liver, kidney and heart were examined. Findings of urine analysi s showed that the chronic GTX-I administration produced proteinuria an d hematuria and decrease in level of urine ketone bodies. It was also observed that there were increases in serum GPT and LDH, activities, b ut decrease in serum total protein levels occured in a dose releated m anner. There was no significant histopathologic alterations, detectabl e by light microscopy, in examined tissues.