POSSIBLE ROLE OF GLUTATHIONE IN PREVENTION OF ACETAMINOPHEN-INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY ENHANCED BY FISH-OIL IN MALE WISTAR RATS

It has been reported that fish oil protects the rat liver against acet aminophen (APAP) induced toxicity; however, this finding is controvers ial. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of fi sh oil-enriched diet on APAP-induced liver injury in Wistar rats. Rats were fed a diet supplemented with either 8% fish oil or 8% corn oil, or standard rat feed for 6 wk. After an overnight fast, rats in each g roup were given either 2 g/kg APAP or saline orally. Our findings show ed that APAP increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and that t his rise was potentiated in the presence of dietary fat. Further fish oil ingestion increased the glutathione (GSH) content in rat liver; ho wever, this was not effective in protecting liver from APAP-induced to xicity. Data suggest that GSH may be necessary to detoxify APAP metabo lites, which are known to induce hepatotoxicity but are increased by d ietary fat.