Heat Induced Oxidative Stress and Aberrations in Liver Function Leading to Hepatic Injury in Rats

Avinash Gupta; Nishant Ranjan Chauhan; Ajeet Singh; Daipayan Chowdhury; Ramesh Chand Meena; Amitabha Chakrabarti; Lilly Ganju; Bhuvnesh Kumar; Shashi Bala Singh

doi:10.14429/dlsj.4.13174

Avinash Gupta DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Nishant Ranjan Chauhan DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Ajeet Singh DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Daipayan Chowdhury DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Ramesh Chand Meena DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Amitabha Chakrabarti DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Lilly Ganju DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Bhuvnesh Kumar DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences
Shashi Bala Singh National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dlsj.4.13174

Keywords: Liver, Heat stress, Liver function test, Oxidative stress, Heat shock protein

Abstract

Exposure to heat stress (HS) elicits systemic and cellular response in experimental animals and humans. The current study was undertaken to determine the effect of HS on liver microstructure and function in rats. A heat simulation chamber with ambient temperature (Ta) 45 ± 0.5 °C and relative humidity (RH) 30 ± 5 per cent was used to expose animals to HS. Rats were categorised as moderately heat stressed (MHS, Tc = 40 °C) and severely heat stressed (SHS, Tc = 42 °C) group. We observed that with rise in core temperature (Tc) alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were increased but glucose level was decreased in both plasma and liver tissue. Significantly elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) were detected in liver of MHS and SHS animals. Additionally, glutathione disulfide and glutathione (GSSG and GSH) ratio was found to be increased with rise in Tc which suggested saturation in antioxidant capacity of tissue. Furthermore, levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and caspases were upregulated upon HS. Results of histological examination indicated extensive loss of cells in liver parenchyma leading to disorganisation of lobular structure. Thus, biochemical and histological studies in experimental animals demonstrates that HS may severely altered structural and biochemical functions of liver.

Author Biographies

Avinash Gupta, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Mr. Avinash Gupta has received his M.Tech in Biomedical Engineering from VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu. Currently, he is working as a Senior Research Fellow at Department of Molecular Biology, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Science (DIPAS), Delhi. He is interested in revealing pathophysiology of liver associated with heat stress and identifying
the strategic remedy for protection against heat stress in in-vivo and in-vitro system.

Nishant Ranjan Chauhan, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Mr. Nishant Ranjan Chauhan has done his masters in Biomedical Science from Devi Ahilya University, Indore, M.P. He had worked as a Senior Research Fellow at Department of Heat Physiology, DIPAS, Delhi.

Ajeet Singh, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Mr. Ajeet Singh has done his masters in Biochemistry from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand. Currently, he is working as Senior Research
Fellow at Department of Molecular Biology, DIPAS), Delhi. Ubiquitination, cell signaling related to TORC1 pathway are his area of research.

Daipayan Chowdhury, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Mr. Daipayan Chowdhury has done his masters in Human Physiology from University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal. He is working as a Senior Research Fellow at Department of
Molecular Biology, DIPAS, Delhi. He is interested in revealing the effect of heat stress on SUMOylation status of different proteins in Human cell lines.

Ramesh Chand Meena, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Dr. Ramesh Chand Meena has received Ph. D. in Life Sciences from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. Presently, he is working as Scientist ‘D’ at Department of Molecular Biology, DIPAS, Delhi. His major research area is to elucidate molecular mechanism of stress tolerance in yeast and mammalian model systems. He has various publications in national and international journals, book chapter and patents to his credit.

Amitabha Chakrabarti, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Dr. Amitabha Chakrabarti obtained his M.Sc.(Biochemistry) from the University of Calcutta, in 1985 and Ph.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. Currently working as a Scientist ‘F’ in the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, DRDO, Delhi. His research interests include:
Identification of molecular targets for the development of drugs that would render cells tolerant to environmental stress.

Lilly Ganju, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Dr. Lilly Ganju has received her Ph.D. from National Institute of Immunology, Delhi. Currently, she is working as a Scientist ‘G’ and HOD Department of Molecular Biology, DIPAS, Delhi. She has various publications on her name. Her research interest includes immunological aspects during exposure to extreme environmental stress.

Bhuvnesh Kumar, DRDO Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences

Dr. Bhuvnesh Kumar has received his Ph.D. from G.B. Pant University, Uttarakhand. Currently, he is working as an Outstanding
Scientist and Director, DIPAS, Delhi. He has published more than 100 research papers in national and international peer reviewed journals, collated many reports and presented research findings in various national & international conferences.

Shashi Bala Singh, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad.

Dr. Shashi Bala Singh has received her Ph.D. from AIIMS, Delhi. She was former DS & Director General of Life Science at DRDO, HQ, New Delhi. She has immensely contributed to
the understanding of high altitude physiology and pioneered in the development of nutraceuticals and prophylactics for several
high altitude maladies that include hypophagia and cognitive impairment. Presently, she is working as Director, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad.