Altered Plasma Butyrylcholinesterase Activity in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Hypertensive Rats Does Not Reflect
T Hodbod1, K Szmicsekova, A Cinakova
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Republic. anna.paul.hrabovska@uniba.sk.
Physiological Research
|July 23, 2025
Summary
Plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity increased in rats with comorbid hypertension and diabetes. This finding suggests plasma BChE may not reliably indicate liver damage in these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Metabolic Disorders
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is linked to metabolic imbalance, with associations between plasma activity and lipid/glucose metabolism.
- Comorbid hypertension and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) present complex metabolic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma BChE activity in a rat model of comorbid hypertension and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM).
- To assess the reliability of plasma BChE activity as a marker for liver damage in this comorbid condition.
Main Methods:
- Induction of type 1 DM in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) using streptozotocin (STZ).
- Measurement of plasma BChE activity, lipid profiles, liver enzymes (ALT, AST), albumin, and BChE mRNA expression.
- Comparison between Wistar controls, SHR, and SHR+DM groups.
Main Results:
- SHR+DM rats exhibited hypertension, hyperglycemia, elevated triacylglycerols, cholesterol, HDL, ALT, and AST, with decreased albumin.
- Plasma BChE activity was similar in Wistar and SHR rats but increased by 43% in SHR+DM.
- Liver BChE activity and mRNA expression decreased significantly in SHR and SHR+DM rats.
Conclusions:
- Plasma BChE activity is elevated in a rat model of comorbid hypertension and diabetes.
- Liver BChE activity and expression are reduced in hypertensive and diabetic rats.
- Plasma BChE activity may not be a reliable clinical marker for liver injury in patients with comorbid hypertension and diabetes.
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