Effects of butylated hydroxytoluene on blood liver enzymes and liver glutathione and glutathione-dependent enzymes in rats

Abstract

This study was aimed to detect the effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on the liver glutathione level and glutathione-dependent enzyme activities in female Wistar albino rats. BHT was administered by oral gavage at a dose of 250 mg/kg (Group I) and 500 mg/kg (Group II) for 28 days, 1000 mg/kg (Group III) and 1500 mg/kg (Group IV) for 4 days. The serum ALT, AST and LDH activities were measured on an autoanalyzer, and liver gluthathione (GSH), gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), gluthathione S-transferase (GST), and gluthathione reductase (GR) activities were analysed with commercial ELISA kits. The ALT activity was significantly higher in Groups III and IV (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively) compared to the control group. Blood AST and LDH activities were significantly increased in Group IV (P<0.05). The GSH, GPx, GST and GR in the liver tissue were determined to be statistically low in Groups II, III and IV (P<0.001) in comparison with control group. In microscopic examination, BHT caused histopathological changes in the rat liver tissue in Groups II, III and IV depending on the dose and duration of exposure. It can be concluded that BHT plays a role in producing liver damage in rats with depressed hepatic antioxidant defense. The hepatotoxic response seemed to be dose-and time-dependent.