Potential Susceptibility to Liver Dysfunction Induced by a Therapeutic Dose of Acetaminophen in Rats Submitted to Gestational and Lactational Protein Malnutrition

Abstract

We investigated the potential susceptibility to liver dysfunction induced by a therapeutic dose of acetaminophen in rats submitted to gestational and lactational protein malnutrition using an animal model. Wistar rats were submitted to gestational and lactational protein malnutrition (control, 25% casein, and protein malnutrition, 7% casein). On the 10 th (P10) or on the 25 th (P25) a therapeutic dose of acetaminophen (15 mg/Kg, i.p.) was administered and rats were decapitated 6 hours after acetaminophen administration. Albumin content, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) activities were measured in plasma, as well as the Glutathione (GSH) levels and Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) activity in liver. In both age groups, the treatment with acetaminophen decreased albumin levels and increased ALT and AST activities in plasma. It was also observed decreased hepatic GSH levels and increased GST activity just at P10. An acute therapeutic dose of acetaminophen may induce a mild liver dysfunction in protein malnutrition.