Biochemical parameters of liver function in guinea pigs fed with different diets

Abstract

Guinea pigs have a close resemblance to humans, including comparable plasma lipoprotein metabolism enzymes, a requirement for dietary vitamin C, similar gender plasma lipoprotein differences and equivalent responses to dietary interventions, exercise and drug treatment, toxicity tests, and can be used as a convenient animal model for human hepatic injury, hepatic steatosis and ultimately hepatic cirrhosis without undergoing any genetic manipulations [1, 2]. They are also used as models to investigate the auditory system, kidney function, osteoarthritis, nutrition, infectious diseases, and reproductive biology [1]. It is noteworthy that diet plays a vital role in maintaining animal health and could have a meaningful impact on liver functions. The present study aimed to assess the changes of some biochemical serum parameters associated with the liver function and to find out the correlation between these parameters using two different diets. Housing conditions and the experimental procedures of 12 short-haired guinea pigs served in this study were in line with EU Directive 2010/63/EU. Guinea pigs of group 1 (n = 6) were fed for six months with commercial pellets (free of genetically modified organisms sourced ingredients), whereas animals of group 2 (n = 6) got a diet containing genetically modified soybeans. The reductions in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of 16.59%, 6.60%, 23.72% and 32.00%were fixed in group 2, respectively, as compared with group 1. However, the albumin (Alb) value in group 2showed an increment of 16.00% in comparison to the group 1. No marked changes between the groups were observed in total protein (T-Pro) values. A significant strong positive correlation was noted between AST and Alt (r = 0.80), AST and LDH (r = 0.88), ALT and LDH (r = 0.87) activity values, as well as between Alban T-Pro values (r = 0.88) in group 1 (P < 0.01). In group 2, a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation was determined between ALP and LDH (r = 0.48), ALT and LDH (r = 0.73) activity values, as well as between Alb and T-Pro values (r = 0.51). The correlations between ALT and ALP, ALP and LDH activity values ingroup 1, AST and ALT, AST and LDH, ALT and ALP activity values in group 2 were found to be statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Based on these results, we concluded that liver enzymes activity declined from 6.60%to 32.00% in group 2, but corresponded to the established reference intervals for healthy guinea pigs; therefore group 2 may be fed the diet without restrictions for guinea pigs used in experimental studies.