Abstract
To investigate an effect of aging on the xylene metabolism in liver damaged animals, a study was conducted. 50% carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in olive oil (0.1 ml/100 g body weight) was intraperitoneally given to 5-week and 12-week rats 12 times every other day and then one dose of 50% xylene in olive oil (0.25 ml/100 g body weight) was intraperitoneally given to the rats, and after 24 hr, the animals were sacrificed. On the basis of the functional findings in rat liver, ie, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase activity, liver protein and malonedialdehyde contents, 5-week rats showed less liver damage than 12-week rats. The increasing rate of urinary methylhippuric acid concentration to the control was significantly higher in 5-week rats than 12-week rats in case of xylene treatment after induction of liver damage. On the other hand, liver damaged 5-week rats showed significant rise of hepatic cytochrome P45O content compared with the liver damaged 12-week rats by the xylene treatment. And increasing rate of hepatic alcohol or aldehyde dehydrogenase activities to each liver damaged animals was higher tendency in 5-week rats than 12-week rats by the xylene treatment. In conclusion, 5-week rat showed greater metabolic rate of xylene than 10-week rats in case of liver injury because 5-week rats led to a slight liver damaged compared with 12-week rats.