Effect of Ketogenic Diet on Ectonucleotidases, Alkaline Phosphatase and Transaminases Activities from Blood Serum of Epileptic Rats
Silveira, V.G.1; Cognato, G.P.1; Müller, A.P.1; Bonan, C.D.2; Perry, M.L.S.1; Battastini, A.M.O.1
1Departamento de Bioquímica - ICBS - UFRGS; 2Faculdade de Biociências - PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS
The ketogenic diet (KD) is a rich fat and poor carbohydrates diet, originally described for human epilepsy treatment. Previously, we have shown alterations in nucleotidase activities from central nervous system and blood serum of rats submitted to different models of epilepsy. In this study, we evaluate the effect of KD on nucleotide hydrolysis in blood serum from female Wistar rats, as well as its relationship with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The status epilepticus (SE) was induced by lithium-pilocarpine model, which reproduces the main clinical and neuropathologic features of human temporal lobe epilepsy. At P22, 16 rats received an i.p. injection of lithium chloride (127 mg/kg). 18–19 h later, rats received an i.p. injection of pilocarpine hydrochloride (60 mg/kg) for SE induction. After pilocarpine injection, all rats progressed to SE. The control and ketogenic diets were offered ad libitum, for 45 days. After treatment, the animals were killed by decapitation. The blood serum was collected for determination of enzyme activities. ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis were measured by the inorganic phosphate release using the malachite green method. The protein concentration was determined by Commassie method. ALP, ALT and AST activities were performed with enzymatic kits (LabTestâ). The ectonucleotidase, alkaline phosphatase and ALT/AST activities were expressed in nmolPi/min/mg of protein, U/L e U/mL, respectively. ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis, ALP, ALT and AST activities were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in blood serum of ketotic rats when compared to the control group. It is known that the KD promotes metabolic alterations, such as hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia and another biological effects. The 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) has been used as marker of pancreas and liver damage. The serum ALP is a sensitive marker for early intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile obstruction and the presence of infiltrative diseases of the liver. Similarly, aminotransferases are sensitive indicators of liver cell damage for both acute and chronic hepatocellular injury. Therefore, the elevated activities of serum 5'-NT, ALP and aminotransferases showed in the present study may be due to damage effects of the KD.
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