Thiol Methyltransferase Activity in Cholestatic Rat Liver Induced by Commom Bile Duct Ligation

Abstract

Changes of thiol methyltransferase (TMT) activity in cholestatic rat liver were studied. Hepatic subcellular and serum TMT activities were determined in cholestatic rat induced by common bile duct (CBD) ligation over a period 28 days. The mitochondrial and microsomal TMT activities in cholestatic rat liver were found to be significantly increased between the 1st and the 28th day after CBD ligation. The TMT activity in serum was significantly increased throughout the experiments. The Vmax values of the above hepatic TMT in cholestatic rat were significantly increased at the 7th day after CBD ligation. However, the Km values of the above hepatic enzymes did not vary in all the experimental groups. Therefore, the results indicate that the biosynthesis of TMT was increased in cholestatic rat liver. The elevated serum TMT activity is most likely caused by increased hepatocytes membrane permeability due to cholestasis mediated liver cell necrosis.