Activity of enzymes of a sphingomyelin cycle and concentration of products of sphingomyelin degradation in the liver of rats in dynamics of the acute toxic hepatitis

Activity of key enzymes of a sphingomyelin cycle and the maintenance of its components (sphingomyelin, ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate) have been studied in livers of rats in dynamics of the acute toxic hepatitis caused by hypodermic introduction of an oil solution of CCl4. Sphingomyelinase activity significally increased already on early terms and remained increased over the whole period of observation. Activity of ceramidase insignificantly differed from the control level. The levels of sphingomyelin and sphingosine-1-phosphate did not undergo marked changes while ceramidecontent significally increased. Thus, balance between liver content of ceramide (proapoptotic) and the sphingosine-1-phosphate, being the antiapoptotic factor, was shifted towards ceramide. In sphingomyelin molecules there was a significant decrease in the content of fatty acids С18:1 and С22:2, while in ceramide molecules and sphingosine-1-phosphate only fatty acid С22:2 changed. In spite of significant decrease in content of some unsaturated fatty acids, calculated unsaturation coefficients of the fatty acid component of the sphingomyelin cycle metabolites. Thus, our results together with literature data suggests involvement of ceramide-mediated apoptosis in the pathogenesis of acute toxic hepatitis. Elimination of damaged hepatocytes facilitates realization of repair processes and optimization of cellular community of a liver.