| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000)
|
|---|
| Research Abstract |
We investigated change of homocysteine concentrations in rat tissues, methyl group, metabolism, peroxidant and antioxidants during folate deficiency, for the purpose of esitimation of biological function of folate. Homocysteine concentrations of plasma, liver and heart of folate deficient rats were significantly higher than those of control rats. Thereforem these of kidney and brain did not differ significantly between folate deficiency group and control group. S-adenosylrnethionine(SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine(SAH) hydrolase activity and L-methionine-S-adenosyl(MA) transferase activity in liver of rats fed folate deficient diet were significant higher, SAH and SAM/SAH ratio were lower than in liver of control rats. But in brain, these values did not differ among two groups. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in liver, heart and kidney of folate deficient rats were significantly higher than the controls after 6-weeks feeding period, we measured antioxidants during folate deficiency. Vitamin C concentrations of liver, heart and plasma were significantly lower than the contols. Vitamin E of liver and plasma, and glutathione of liver in folate deficient rats were significantly lower than those in control rats. Glutathione peroxidase activity was not significantly altered. It was shown that methyl group methbolism was altered in liver, but not in brain, during folate deficiency. Further, these data demonstrate promotion of oxidative stress in liver, kidney and heart of folate deficient rats. However, folate deficient did not promote oxidative stress in brain.
|
