The activity of sphingomyelin cycle enzymes and concentration of sphingomyelin degradation products in rat liver in dynamics of acute toxic hepatitis

Activity of key enzymes of the sphingomyelin cycle and the content of its components (sphingomyelin, ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate) have been studied in livers of rats in dynamics of acute toxic hepatitis induced by subcutaneous administration of oil solution of CCl 4 . Sphingomyelinase activity significantly increased already on early terms and remained increased over the whole period of observation. Ceramidase activity insignificantly differed from the control level. The levels of sphingomyelin and sphingosine-1-phosphate did not undergo marked changes while ceramide content significantly increased. The balance between liver content of ceramide (proapoptotic) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (the antiapoptotic factor) was shifted towards ceramide over the whole observation period. In sphingomyelin molecules there was a significant decrease in the content of the fatty acids C 18:1 and C 22:2 , while in ceramide molecules and sphingosine-1-phosphate only the fatty acid C 22:2 changed. In spite of a significant decrease in the content of some unsaturated fatty acids, calculated unsaturation coefficients of the fatty acid component of the sphingomyelin cycle metabolites insignificantly differed from control. Taking into consideration literature data our results suggest involvement of ceramide-mediated apoptosis in the pathogenesis of acute toxic hepatitis. Elimination of damaged hepatocytes permits realization of repair processes and promotes optimization of cellular community in the liver.