Plasma redox status is impaired in the portacaval shunted rat – the risk of the reduced antioxidant ability

BACKGROUND Portacaval shunting in rats produces a reduction of hepatic oxidant scavenging ability. Since this imbalance in hepatic oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis could coexist with systemic changes of oxidant stress/antioxidant status, plasma oxidants and antioxidant redox status in plasma of portacaval shunted-rats were determined. RESULTS Male Wistar male: Control (n = 11) and with portacaval shunt (PCS; n = 11) were used. Plasma levels of the oxidant serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH), the antioxidant total thiol (GSH) and total antioxidant status (TAX) were measured. Albumin, ammonia, Aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), Alanine-aminotransferase (ALT), thiostatin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (alpha1-AGP) were also assayed 4 weeks after the operation. AOPPs were significantly higher (50.51 +/- 17.87 vs. 36.25 +/- 7.21 microM; p = 0.02) and TAX was significantly lower (0.65 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.73 +/- 0.06 mM; p = 0.007) in PCS compared to control rats. Also, there was hypoalbuminemia (2.54 +/- 0.08 vs. 2.89 +/- 0.18 g/dl; p = 0.0001) and hyperammonemia (274.00 +/- 92.25 vs. 104.00 +/- 48.05 microM; p = 0.0001) and an increase of thiostatin (0.23 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.09 +/- 0.01 mg/ml; p = 0.001) in rats with a portacaval shunt. The serum concentration of ammonia is correlated with albumin levels (r = 0.624; p = 0.04) and TAX correlates with liver weight (r = 0.729; p = 0.017) and albumin levels (r = 0.79; p = 0.007) CONCLUSION These findings suggest that in rats with a portacaval shunt a systemic reduction of oxidant scavenging ability, correlated with hyperammonemia, is principally produced. It could be hypothesized, therefore, that the reduced antioxidant defences would mediate a systemic inflammation.