Serum activity of the key gluconeogenic enzymes in carbon-tetrachloride-induced experimental hepatotoxicity.

Serum activity has been measured in three of the key enzymes in the gluconeogenic pathway in rats subjected to experimental hepatotoxicity after intraperitoneal administration of carbon tetrachloride. The levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and fructose-1,6-biphosphatase (FBPase) showed a similar behavior to the transaminase (AST and ALT), increasing markedly with respect to the controls at 12 h after administration of the poison, reaching their maximum peak of activity at between 24 and 36 h, and returning to normal values at 96 h. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was not significantly modified throughout the treatment. These results seem to demonstrate that the determination of the serum activity of PEPCK and FBPase could be a sensitive and specific marker of hepatic cytolysis.