The role of membrane composition in ATPase activities of cirrhotic rat liver: Effect of silymarin

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Abstract
The activities of Ca2+- and Na+, K+ -ATPases were studied in liver plasma membranes from CCI4-cirrhotic rats and from livers of rats treated with silymarin in addition to CCI4. CCI4 chronic treatment produced significant decreases in Na+, K+- and Ca2+-AT Pase activities; however, the animals treated with silymarin along with CCI4 showed no differences in ATPase activities as compared to controls. The lipid analysis performed in plasma membranes revealed increases in the cholesterol/phospholipid (CH/PL) and sphingomyelin/phosphatidylcholine (SM/PC) ratios in the cirrhotic group. Again, the membranes isolated from rats receiving CCI4 + silymarin showed normal CH/PL and SM/PC values. Considering that CH/PL and SM/PC ratios are related to membrane microviscosity, this study suggests that a lower fluidity of the membrane may be responsible for the observed decreases in ATPase activities in the cirrhotic group. Additionally, the role of silymarin to improve liver function in CCI4-cirrhosis can be attributed partially to its action at membrane level by preventing the increases in CH/PL and SM/PC ratios.

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