Electrolyte Concentrations and Liver Enzymes in Car Spray Painters Exposed to Car Spray Paints within Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: To determine the effect of car spray paint on electrolyte concentrations (sodium, potassium, bicarbonate and chloride), Anion gap, Total Protein, Albumin, liver enzymes (Alanine amino transferase and Aspartate amino transferase) of car spray painters. Place of Study: The study was conducted within Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State Nigeria. Methodology: Twenty (20) male car spray painters age range between 25 and 61 years with 7- 28 years work experience in car spray painting (test subjects) and twenty (20) apparently healthy male individuals aged between 25 and 61 years who work within an office setting far away from car spray painting garage (non-exposed individuals) were used as control for the study. Plasma electrolyte concentrations were estimated using Ion selective electrode method while Liver Enzymes Alanine amino transferase and Aspartate amino transferase were estimated using spectrophotometric method. Results obtained from the experiment were expressed as Mean ± Standard Deviation. P < .05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Sodium, Potassium, Bicarbonate and Chloride concentrations in plasma of car spray painters when compared to non-car spray painters did not showed any significant difference (P> .05). However, Anion gap was significantly increased (P<.05) in plasma of car spray painters when compared to non-car spray painters. Alanine amino transferase activity were significantly higher in plasma of Car spray painters (P < .05) when compared to non-car spray painters while Aspartate amino transferase activity, Total protein and Albumin concentrations remained relatively unchanged when compared between the studied groups. However, Aspartate amino transferase and Alanine amino transferase activities were affected by years of exposure to car paints. Conclusions: This study suggest that car spray paint affects Anion gap and Alanine amino transferase activity in car spray painters hence safety apparatus should be worn while working. However further test on other liver enzymes should be done to validate the effect of spray paint on the liver.

Identifying Physiological Stress Biomarkers for Prediction of Pork Quality Variation

This study assessed the potential use of various physiological stress biomarkers as indicators of carcass and meat quality traits in 240 pigs subjected to the standard marketing conditions and minimal stressful antemortem handling using Pearson correlations. The most important pork quality traits (pH and temperature, water holding capacity, and color) had limited correlations with stress metabolites (lactate, glucose), stress hormones (cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone), stress enzymes (creatine kinase, aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase), electrolytes (sodium, chloride), and acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, albumin), indicating poor reliability in predicting pork quality. Albumin level was moderately positively correlated with live weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, and back fat thickness. Alanine amino transferase level was moderately positively correlated with live weight, hot carcass weight, and cold carcass weight. Cortisol level was moderately positively correlated with live weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, and back fat thickness, and moderately negatively correlated with the lean carcass content. Increased lactate dehydrogenase level was moderately correlated with decreased drip and cooking loss. In conclusion, lactate dehydrogenase could help pork producers predict pork quality variation, while cortisol, alanine amino transferase, and albumin could be useful in prediction of carcass quality.

The Effect of 2,4 Dimethylamine salt on the Blood, Liver and Muscle of Oryclotagus Cuniculus

Aminoforce containing 720g/l of 2,4-dimethylamine salt induced changes on some enzymes and electrolytes in the male Oryclotagus cuniculus (New Zealand rabbit) were assayed. The organisms were exposed to varying sub-lethal concentrations of the toxicant (720g/l). The concentrations were prepared by pipetting 0.4mls, 0.8mls and 0.12mls making it up to 1.5L clean water in a metal container to make 2.0 mgl-1, 4.0 mgl-1 and 6.0 mgl-1. Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT) and Acid phosphatase (ACP) were assayed in the liver and blood. Results showed that aspartate amino transferase values in the liver and blood were significant (p<0.05) across the concentration of the toxicants. Aspartate amino transferase increased as the concentration of the toxicant increased in the liver, and decreased as the toxicant concentration increased in the blood. Alanine amino transferase in the blood and liver were akin to AST while ACP values increased in the blood and decreased in the liver as the concentration of the toxicant increased. Electrolytes (Sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions) showed statistical deviation across the various concentration of the toxicants. Chloride ion values stabilized in the experimental group being not significantly different (p>0.05) across the various concentration of the toxicants. From the study, AST, ALT and ACP are suitable biomarkers for showing sub-lethal effect of aminoforce on Oryclotagus cuniculus. The effects recorded clearly unveiled the potential effect of this xenobiotics on Oryclotagus cuniculus. Therefore, exposure of Oryclotagus cuniculus to this toxicant will affect the organism’s physiological responses and over prolong period of time it could lead to death. Additionally, via food chain man may be affected. The use of this toxicant close to rabbittory should be done with utmost caution.

ALANINE AMINO TRANSFERASE (ALT) SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES IN LONG TERM SYSTEMIC HYPOXIC RAT BRAIN TISSUES

Background: Brain as a very aerobic organ is sensitive to hypoxia. Energy scarcities must be overcome by gluconeogenesis, which uses alanine or lactate as starting material. The reaction is catalyzed by alanine amino transaminase (ALAT or ALT), also known as glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT). Objective: To investigate whether the specific activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased in hypoxic rat brain.Methods: This experimental study used rats exposed to systemic normobaric hypoxia during 14 days. A group of 5 rats was sacrificed in days 1, 3, 7 and 14. The specific activities of ALT were analyzed in their brains using a reaction coupled with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities.Results: The ALT specific activities in rat brain were very low. There was no significant increase of specific activities during long term hypoxia (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The rat brain ALT has no role in gluconeogenesis.

Determination of Biochemical and Histological Parameters of Alcohol Administration in Wistar Rats

Animal model development of alcohol administration in rats is of crucial importance as it gives indirect information to effects of alcohol in humans. An indirect assessment of this would be the biochemical and histological data that could arise from such experiments. 20 Male Wistar rats weighing (63.50±3.79 g), were divided into four groups (consisting 15 treated animals and 5 control animals) and administered with varying concentrations of ethanol (5% 15% and 40%) via intragastric intubation for a period of 28 days. Probic evaluations, liver biochemical enzymes and alteration in histology profile of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and viscera organs (namely the liver, kidney, heart and lungs) were determined after experimental duration. At 40% ethanol administration, the rats showed biochemically significant decrease in serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), serum aspartate (AST) and Alanine amino transferase (ALT) when compared to normal study while 5% and 15% ethanol administered rats were comparable with control values i.e. normal study. Probic evaluations such as body weight, water intake and food intake showed percentage decrease in 40% ethanol administrated rat when compared with controls. The photomicrographs of the 5% and 15% ethanol administered rats indicated mild damage in their histological profiles when compared to the normal study while there was more adverse damage occurring in the 40% ethanol administrated rats. Conclusion: From this study, serum aspartate (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and Alanine amino transferase (ALT), probic evaluation (body weight, food intake and water intake) coupled with histopathological investigation may be used as biomarker for the early diagnosis of ethanol toxicity in human beings.

Comparative study for three protocols of general anesthesia in bucks

The aim of this study was to evaluate three regimens in induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in local breed bucks and the investigation of the best protocol of them based on different parameters. Eighteen healthy adult bucks weighing (27.50 ± 0.682 kg), aged (1.989 ± 0.135 years) were used. Animals were divided randomly into three equal groups to undergo pre-experiment preparation. All groups were premedicated intravenously with (0.5 mg/ kg) Diazepam, ten min. Later, the induction for first group was done by Propofol (3 mg/kg B.W), second group was done by Ketamine Hcl (2 mg/kg B.W), while in the third group was done by Thiopental sodium (3mg/kg B.W). After intubation with suitable endotracheal tube, maintenance of the three groups was done by (1.3-1.5%) isoflurane and nitrous oxide with oxygen at ratio 2:1. All the three groups underwent the measurement of the following parameters; (Induction, recovery and duration times) Clinical parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature); Clinical signs, analgesia, muscle relaxation; Liver enzyme (Aspartate Amino Transferase and Alanine Amino Transferase). The complete randomized design within statistical analysis system (SAS) program were used for statistical analysis as relevant with a significance level set at P<0.05. The results of this study showed that the induction of the anesthesia was smooth and uneventful in all the three groups and recovery time was shorter in 3rd group in comparison with 2nd and 1st groups. The three regimens showed no significant differences in heart rate. The 2nd group recorded a sharp decrease in respiratory rate and body temperature in comparison with 1st and 3rd groups. Analgesia was very suitable in all the three groups. There were significant changes among groups concerning Alanine Amino Transferase and, Aspartate Amino Transferase. It was concluded that all the three protocols were safe and caused no hazard effect on the animals.