Changes in hepatic enzyme activities in transgenic mice carrying human prototype c-Ha-ras gene treated with diethylnitrosamine.

Activities of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and aspartate aminotransferase in the malate-aspartate shuttle were significantly increased in the cytosolic fractions of livers with early neoplastic symptoms such as swelling and discoloration in transgenic mice carrying the prototype human c-Ha-ras gene, Tg-rasH2 mice, which were administered with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as a carcinogenic chemical at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. Cytosolic MDH/LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) (ML) ratio increased significantly and was considered to be a useful marker to characterize the energy metabolism at early neoplastic stage in livers of the Tg-rasH2 mice.