Cascades of metabolic changes leading to acetone production are induced in states of energy catabolism such as starvation or the use of a ketogenic diet. The reduced capacity for cell detoxification or the increased generation of free radicals is responsible for the toxic effect of acetone. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of acute treatment (AT) with acetone on the oxidative and metabolic status of rats. The AT group (n=16) was treated by gavage with a single administration of 7.0 g acetone/kg body weight at a concentration of 25% (m/v). Eight rats were euthanized 6 h later (AT6) and eight 24 h later (AT24). Acetone levels were determined in blood and urine and oxidative parameters were analyzed by determining thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS, indicators of lipid peroxidation) and reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamin E as antioxidant parameters. Serum glucose, blood cholesterol and triglycerieds and hepatic fat were also determined. The results indicated a significant difference in the hepatic oxidative parameters, serum glucose and in plasma triglycerides between the groups. Thus, we conclude that the administration of acute acetone doses can promote changes in some biochemical parameters and in the hepatic oxidative profile.
(c) J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart, New York.