S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) in a feline acetaminophen model of oxidative injury

J Feline Med Surg. 2003 Apr;5(2):69-75. doi: 10.1016/S1098-612X(02)00017-7.

Abstract

S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is reported to have hepatoprotective and antioxidant functions. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) was used to induce oxidative damage in cats, and to then determine the effect of SAMe treatment on erythrocyte morphology, PCV, liver histopathology, thiobarbituate reacting substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), and oxidised glutathione (GSSG). Cats receiving acetaminophen had a significant increase in methemoglobin and Heinz body production. A significant effect for the interaction of time and treatment was found for Heinz body production and changes in PCV. No significant changes were found in blood or hepatic TBARS. Blood GSH increased significantly in all cats, while the blood GSH:GSSG ratio tended to increase the most in cats given acetaminophen only. The hepatic GSH:GSSG ratio tended to increase in cats given SAMe and decrease in cats given acetaminophen, but this effect was not significant. SAMe protected erythrocytes from oxidative damage by limiting Heinz body formation and erythrocyte destruction and maybe useful in treating acetaminophen toxicity.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaminophen / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Cat Diseases / blood
  • Cat Diseases / pathology
  • Cat Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Cats
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / prevention & control
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / veterinary*
  • Erythrocytes / pathology*
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione Disulfide / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / therapeutic use*
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Acetaminophen
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Glutathione
  • Glutathione Disulfide