Changes in the Level of Mitochondrial and Cytosolic Aspartate Aminotransferase Activities in Aluminium Intoxified Rat

The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in human serum has been widely determined as a diagnostic aid in liver disease. In this study, the effect of aluminium on AST isoenzymes in relation to aluminium intoxified patients has been investigated. Using gel filtration chromatography technique with Sephacryl S-300, mitochondrial aminotransferase (m-AST) and cytosolic aminotransferase (c-AST) fractions were separated from rat serum and liver homogenate. The c-AST fraction was eluted with higher mobility than m-AST iso-enzyme. Daily administration of aluminium (1 and 5 mg/kg body weight) for 30 days increased total serum activity of AST by 19% and 72%, respectively. Daily administration of aluminium (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) for 30 days was also studied. The percentage of elevations was 114% and 86% in comparison to the controls. Following aluminium administration for 45 days, the enzyme activity was elevated to 20% and 60% in comparison to the controls, and administration for 60 days resulted elevation of 35% and 79%. The serum enzyme activity was mostly due to the mitochondrial fraction of AST that was a time and dose dependent.