Modification of aflatoxin B1-induced changes in certain mitochondrial enzymes and lipids by medroxyprogesterone...

The effect of a single dose of 5 mg/kg body weight of aflatoxin B1 on rat liver mitochondrial enzymes, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and Mg++ adenosine triphosphatase (Mg++-ATPase) and on certain lipids were studies at various intervals of time from 3 to 24 hours. A significant decrease in the specific activity of SDH was observed after 6, 12, 18 and 24 hr treatment. The Mg++-ATPase activity remained unaffected up to 12 hr but appreciably decreased after, 18 and 24 hr of the treatment. The level of phospholipids and cholesterol were not altered after 3, 6 and 12 hr treatment, thereafter (18 and 24 hr) an increase was observed in both the lipids following the aflatoxin treatment. Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) did not cause any alteration in the specific activities of these enzymes as well as levels of cholesterol and phospholipids. The treatment with MPA caused significant increase in contents of cytochromes P-450, b5 and activities of Arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDP-GT) and NADPH-cytochrome C-reductase of hepatic microsomes. It was observed that pretreatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) could significantly minimuze the depression caused in mitochondrial SDH and Mg++-ATPase activities by aflatoxin B1.