Effects of the 2-ethylthiobenzimidazole hydrobromide (bemithyl) on carbohydrate metabolism in cirrhotic rat liver

Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2003 Mar;54(4):339-47. doi: 10.1078/0940-2993-00270.

Abstract

The effect of the actoprotector bemithyl (2-ethylthiobenzimidazole hydrobromide) on the content of glycogen and activities of glycogen synthase, glycogen phosphorylase, and glucose-6-phosphatase was studied in the cirrhotic rat liver. The content of glycogen and its fraction was determined by a cytofluorimetric method (Kudryavtseva et al. 1974). It has been shown that in cirrhosis the content of total glycogen in hepatocytes increases about 3 times and the content of its stable fraction increases 7.5 times. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase fell to a level as low as 25% of normal. Activities of glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase in the cirrhotic liver did not differ from normal. In the cirrhotic liver, bemithyl produced a decrease of the total glycogen content which was associated with a decrease of the glycogen synthase activity and an increase of the glucose-6-phosphatase and glycogen phosphorylase activities. Thus, the results of our studies indicate a favorable effect of bemithyl on the cirrhotic liver.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzimidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Glucose-6-Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Glycogen Phosphorylase / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / enzymology
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Liver Glycogen / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Rats

Substances

  • Benzimidazoles
  • Liver Glycogen
  • bemethyl
  • Glycogen Phosphorylase
  • Glycogen Synthase
  • Glucose-6-Phosphatase