Potential inhibitory effects of low-dose thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid administration on alcohol-induced hepatopathy in mice

Kataoka, Takahiro*; Ishida, Tsuyoshi*; Naoe, Shota*; Kanzaki, Norie   ; Sakoda, Akihiro   ; Tanaka, Hiroshi ; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

Although thoron inhalation has antioxidative effects on several organs, there are no reports that thoron inhalation inhibits oxidative stress-induced damage. In the present study, we examined the combined effects of thoron inhalation and ascorbic acid (AA) administration on alcohol-induced liver damage. The mice were subjected to thoron inhalation at 500 or 2000 Bq/m and were administered 50% ethanol (alcohol) and 300 mg/kg AA. The results showed that although alcohol administration increased the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in the serum, the combination of thoron inhalation (500 Bq/m) and AA administration 24 h after alcohol administration effectively inhibited alcohol-induced liver damage. In conclusion, combination of thoron inhalation at 500 Bq/m and AA administration indicated an early recovery from alcohol-induced liver damage probably due to the increase of CAT activity.