Abstract
Comparative effects of Zinc N- (3-aminopropionyl) -L-histidine (Z-103), L-carnosine, and ZnSO4·7 H2O on rat erythrocytes and primary cultured hepatocytes were studied. Both Z-103 and ZnSO4·7 H2O, in concentrations of 4×10-5M-1×10-3M, protected erythrocytes from 50 % hypotonic hemolysis, and 1×10-3M L-carnosine was also slightly protective. There was a significant decrease in the leakage of GOT from the cultured hepatocytes, compared to that of the control, after treatment with 10-9 or 10-6M Z-103, or 10-6M L-carnosine. However, treatment with ZnSO4·7 H2O produced only effects comparable to those in the control. Similarly, decrease in GPT leakage from the cultured hepatocytes was clearly evident after treatment with Z-103, L-carnosine or ZnSO4· 7 H2O. There were no obvious effects of these three compounds on surface tension or phase transition temperature of DPPC liposome bilayer. The present results indicate that Z-103 and ZnSO4·7 H2O similarly inhibit hypotonic hemolysis and enzyme leakage from cultured hepatocytes. It is suggested that chelated zinc, and not Z-103 itself, is the major factor in changing membrane properties.
