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Measurements have been made of the hepatic soluble and mitochondrial GOT and GPT and mitochondrial NAD+ glutamate dehydrogenase activities in thioacetamide-treated rats for 30 days. There is a significant fall in the GOT and GPT soluble activities from the effect of chronic thioacetamide administration while the mitochondrial activities become markedly increased in both cases. Glutamate dehydrogenase also increased from the effect of this hepatotoxic substance. Protein determined in the soluble and mitochondrial fractions, showed decreased levels in the cytosolic extracts and increased levels in the mitochondrial ones. Morphological aspects of liver cells showed hypertrophic mitochondria located around the likewise hypertrophic nucleus. The existence of functionally very active mitochondria in the generating liver, induced by thioacetamide, as well as metabolic mechanisms for the regulating control under pathological circumstances, can be a consequence of the increased ammonia concentration.

Changes in 3H2O incorporation in vivo to lipid fractions have been studied in rats 1, 3 and 13 months old. The incorporation of tritiated water into non-saponifiable fraction showed and age-dependent decrease in liver. The values were 4.32, 2.91 and 2.56 mumol 3H2O incorporated/g wet weight of liver/hour, at 1, 3 and 13 months respectively. Similar variations could be observed in adipose tissue and in blood. The rates of lower lipogenesis increase markedly from 1 to 3 months (7.02 to 13.36 mumol 3H2O/g/h) and decrease sharply from the 3rd to 13th months (13.36 to 3.75 mumol 3H2O/g/h). The incorporation of radioactivity into blood and adipose tissue fatty acids, also decrease by age.