E. Skrzydlewska et R. Farbiszewski, DECREASED ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE-MECHANISMS IN RAT-LIVER AFTER METHANOL INTOXICATION, Free radical research, 27(4), 1997, pp. 369-375
The primary metabolic fate of methanol is oxidation to formaldehyde an
d then to formate by enzymes of the liver. Cytochrome P-450 and a role
for the hydroxyl radical have been implicated in this process The aim
of the paper was to study the liver antioxidant defense system in met
hanol intoxication, in doses of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g/kg b.w., after meth
anol administration to rats. In liver homogenates, the activities of C
u,Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased af
ter 6 h following methanol ingestion in doses of 3.0 and 6.0 g/kg b.w.
and persisted up to 2-5 days, accompanied by significant decrease of
glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The conte
nt of GSH was significantly decreased during 6 hours to 5 days. The li
ver ascorbate level was significantly diminished, too, while MDA level
s were considerably increased after 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g/kg b.w. methano
l intoxication. Changes due to methanol ingestion may indicate impaire
d antioxidant defense mechanisms in the liver tissue.