Background: Biotinidase, an enzyme that is synthesized by the liver and secreted into the blood, decreases in plasma in both humans and experimental animal liver cirrhosis. In overdose conditions, paracetamol is known to cause centrilobular necrosis in both humans and experimental animals. We determined if there is any alteration in the activity of the enzyme in the plasma and liver of rats after subtoxic and toxic doses of paracetamol.
Methods: After 4-, 24-, and 40-h treatment of rats with either subtoxic (350 mg/kg body wt) or toxic dose (1000 mg per kg) of paracetamol intraperitoneally, biotinidase activity was assayed in the liver and plasma along with the albumin concentration and ALT activity.
Results: After the subtoxic dose of paracetamol, there were no significant change in plasma biotinidase activity and liver biotinidase activity was observed at any time period after treatment. However, 24 and 40 h after the toxic dose of paracetamol, biotinidase activity was decreased in the liver and increased in the plasma as compared with the control, when plasma ALT was increased.
Conclusion: The increase in plasma biotinidase activity may serve as an indicator of paracetamol-induced acute liver injury in the rat.