The influence of small doses of paracetamol on rabbit liver

• Published in: Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft für Toxikologische Pathologie Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 139 - 141
• Main Authors: Maciejewska-Paszek, Izabela, Pawłowska-Góral, Katarzyna, Kostrzewski, Marek, Kurzeja, Ewa, Wardas, Maria, Rzepecka-Stojko, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jena Elsevier GmbH 01.10.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid - blood; Acetaminophen - toxicity; Acetoacetate; Acetoacetates - blood; Administration, Oral; AKBR; Alanine Transaminase - metabolism; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - toxicity; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - blood; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - etiology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; gamma-Glutamyltransferase - metabolism; Glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - blood; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Ketone Bodies - blood; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Liver Function Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Rabbits; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; β-hydoxybutyrate; Glutathione peroxidase; Superoxide dismutase; AKBR; Acetoacetate; β-hydoxybutyrate; Digestive system; Enzyme; Liver; Rabbit; Lagomorpha; Vertebrata; Anatomic pathology; Paracetamol; Mammalia; Peroxidases; Animal; Oxidoreductases; Dose
• ISSN: 0940-2993; 1618-1433
• DOI: 10.1016/j.etp.2007.04.003

Paracetamol has properties that make it useful in many kinds of drugs that are readily available to users. These drugs are often used for extensive periods of time without a doctor's supervision, which might lead to unexpected overdose. The aim of this work was to assess the extent of liver damage in rabbits after administering them with paracteamol for approximately 2 months. The results we obtained suggest that paracetamol administered for a long time causes liver function impairment. It was, however, not possible to determine the impairment by measuring the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or γ-glutamylotranspeptidase (GGTP). It was determined by measuring the concentration of ketone bodies and arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) value. Even when taken in small doses, paracetamol causes changes in liver metabolism when taken for an extended period of time.