Biomarkers in the measurement of hepatic damage in sheep

Abstract

The measurement of urinary taurine and the liver specific enzymes AST and GGT in sheep with hepatic damage was undertaken to determine if urinary taurine could be used as a biomarker of hepatic damage. Two treatment groups (n = 5) were treated with O.125ml/Kg BW of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) (Group A), and O.125mg/Kg BW/day of sporidesmin (SPDM) (Group B) respectively. Two other treatment groups (n = 4) were used as control groups. One group was placed on a restricted diet and treated with O.625ml/Kg BW of paraffin (Group C), the other group was not dosed (Group D). Following dosing blood and urine samples were taken every 12 h for five days, before weekly sampling commenced. On day 27 animals in group A were redosed with CCl₄ , due to insignificant liver damage in this group. Blood and urine samples were again taken every 12h for 5 days, then sampling occurred weekly until the end of the trial, when all animals, except group D animals, were sacrificed. Tissue samples were then from liver, kidney, and pancreatic tissue, for metal analysis, and the livers were scored for liver damage. Liver specific enzyme activity increased in group A animals after second dosing. Enzyme activity did not increase in group B animals, even though animals' livers demonstrated fibrosis. Urinary taurine output was patchy and inconsistent with no conclusions able to be reached about this data. Results are inconclusive, with there being no indication of the effectiveness of urinary taurine as a biomarker of liver damage.