In various experimental models, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) has been shown to reduce liver injury by preventing depletion of glutathione, one of the antioxidant systems that plays a critical role in defence against oxidative stress. On the other hand, α-tocopherol may be decreased in liver diseases, and treatment with this vitamin reduces liver injury in CCl4-treated rats. Since there is a close relationship among the different antioxidant systems (mainly glutathione, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid), we have assessed whether, as well as restoring hepatic glutathione content, SAMe has any effect on liver α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid levels in CCl4-injured rats. Four groups of seven male Wistar rats treated for 9 weeks were studied: rats induced to cirrhosis with CCl4, rats induced to cirrhosis plus SAMe administration (10 mgċkg-1ċday-1) and their respective controls. Liver samples were obtained for measuring levels of glutathione, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and hydroxyproline concentration as an index of collagen content. The hydroxyproline content was higher in CCl4-injured rats than in the control group (4.4±1.8 and 1.1±0.3 μmol/g respectively; P < 0.05). In CCl4-injured rats, SAMe administration decreased collagen content (2.7±1.0 μmol/g; P < 0.05) and TBARS, and corrected glutathione depletion. α-Tocopherol was significantly lower in CCl4-injured rats than in controls (17.3±4.9 and 23.0±4.0 μmol/g respectively; P < 0.05). By contrast, α-tocopherol levels were similar (23.8±5.1 μmol/g) in CCl4-injured rats receiving SAMe and in controls. In CCl4-injured rats, liver ascorbic acid was decreased in comparison with controls (4.9±1.8 and 8.2±1.0 μmol/g respectively; P < 0.05), levels which were not replenished by SAMe (4.6±0.4 μmol/g). In conclusion, SAMe not only decreases fibrosis and protects against hepatic glutathione depletion, but has a further antioxidant effect of preventing α-tocopherol depletion in CCl4-injured rats.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
September 01 2000
S-Adenosylmethionine prevents hepatic tocopherol depletion in carbon tetrachloride-injured rats Available to Purchase
Ramón DEULOFEU;
Ramón DEULOFEU
*Laboratory of Biochemistry, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Albert PARÉS;
†Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Correspondence: Dr Albert Parés, Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, C/. Villarroel 170, 08036-Barcelona, Spain (e-mail [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Mireia RUBIO;
Mireia RUBIO
†Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Marta GASSÓ;
Marta GASSÓ
†Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Juan ROMÁN;
Juan ROMÁN
†Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
América GIMÉNEZ;
América GIMÉNEZ
†Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Gregorio VARELA-MOREIRAS;
Gregorio VARELA-MOREIRAS
‡Department of Medicine, Division of Hepatology and Gene Therapy, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Joan CABALLERIA;
Joan CABALLERIA
†Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Antonio M. BALLESTA;
Antonio M. BALLESTA
*Laboratory of Biochemistry, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
José M. MATO;
José M. MATO
‡Department of Medicine, Division of Hepatology and Gene Therapy, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Joan RODÉS
Joan RODÉS
†Alcohol and Liver Units, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
May 11 2000
Accepted:
June 22 2000
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 2000
2000
Clin Sci (Lond) (2000) 99 (4): 315–320.
Article history
Received:
May 11 2000
Accepted:
June 22 2000
Citation
Ramón DEULOFEU, Albert PARÉS, Mireia RUBIO, Marta GASSÓ, Juan ROMÁN, América GIMÉNEZ, Gregorio VARELA-MOREIRAS, Joan CABALLERIA, Antonio M. BALLESTA, José M. MATO, Joan RODÉS; S-Adenosylmethionine prevents hepatic tocopherol depletion in carbon tetrachloride-injured rats. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 October 2000; 99 (4): 315–320. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0990315
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Cited By
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |