An association between lipid peroxidation and alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate-induced liver injury in rats

An association between lipid peroxidation and alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced liver injury was examined in rats injected once with the tox icant (75 mg/kg body weight). The severity of liver injury was estimated 12 , 24, 48, and 72 h after ANIT injection. Liver injury appeared 24 h after A NIT injection, progressed at 48 h, and recovered at 72 h, judging from the serum levels of marker enzymes and components. Serum lipid peroxide (LPO) c oncentration increased 24 h after ANIT injection and further increased at 4 8 h, but this increase was attenuated at 72 h. In contrast, liver LPO conte nt increased 12 h after ANIT injection and further increased 24 and 48 h, b ut this increase was attenuated at 72 h. Similarly, myeloperoxidase (MPO) a ctivity, an index of neutrophil infiltration, in the liver tissue increased 12 h after ANIT injection and further increased at 24 and 48 h, but this i ncrease was attenuated at 72 h. Either serum LPO concentration or liver LPO content was significantly correlated with liver MPO activity (r = 0.661 fo r serum LPO concentration; r = 0.585 for liver LPO content). These results suggest that lipid peroxidation might be associated with ANIT-induced liver injury in rats and that this lipid peroxidation might occur via oxygen rad icals derived from neutrophils infiltrated into the liver tissue of ANIT-in toxicated rats. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.