Effects of alcohol-graded concentrations on total thiols and some thiol utilizing enzymes

Excessive intake of alcohol has been documented to initiate different pathological conditions. Although various researchers have reported these associations, the modulatory effects on endogenous thiols are not well studied. This study investigated the effects of alcohol-graded concentrations on some thiol utilizing enzymes in rats. Adults’ male rats were divided into four main groups and treated with distilled water, 30 %, 40 % and 50 % alcohol (3.20 g / Kg body weight). Five rats from each group were sacrificed at the end of 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 day(s) of the experiment. Assay of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase specific activities along with total thiols levels were carried out. Alcohol administration resulted in an upregulation of the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase with concomitant depletion of total thiols concentrations. Conclusively, this study affirms that graded dosages of alcohol administration to rats induced perturbations in the thiol utilizing system in a non-time dependent consistent manner.