TRANSMAMMARY EXPOSURE OF MOUSE PUPS TO ALLIUM-SATIVUM (GARLIC) AND ITS EFFECT ON THE NEONATAL HEPATIC XENOBIOTIC-METABOLIZING ENZYMES OF MICE

The present study examines the transmammary modulation of hepatic xeno biotic metabolizing enzymes in the F-1 generation mouse pups postnatal ly exposed to garlic. Lactating Swiss albino mice received either 200 or 400 mg of garlic/kg bw by oral gavage for 14 or 21 days postpartum. The acid soluble sulfhydryl content significantly increased in liver of dams (P<0.05) on the higher dose of garlic. It however decreased in liver of 14 day old pups (P<0.01) translactationally exposed to the l ower garlic dose. Cytochrome b(5) content was not affected with garlic treatment in dams and most of the pups but increased in the 14 day ol d female pup translactationally exposed to the higher dose of garlic ( p<0.001). Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content and glutathione S-transfera se activity remained unchanged in dams and pups exposed to garlic. Glu tathione reductase decreased significantly in liver of dams which rece ived the lower garlic dose for 14 or 21 days (P<0.05) and in the 21 da y old pups (P<0.001). Glutathione peroxidase activity decreased in dam s and pups which were exposed to 400 mg garlic/kg bw for 21 days (P<0. 001).