A genetic study of serum levels of cobalt-activated acylase among susceptible, resistant and semiresistant strains of mice with experimental viral hepatitis.

Cobalt-activated acylase (Co-A) and transaminase activity were determined in the serum of A/Jax, DBA/2 and C3H mice several days after an intraperitoneal injection of 1,000 lethal doses of murine hepatitis virus type 3 (MHV3). A significant rise in the enzyme activity was observed 1 day after the injection, followed by a decrease on day 2. In the case of the genetically resistant A/Jax strain, the Co-A level regularly decreased to reach normal values on days 7-8. On the contrary, among the fully susceptible DBA/2 strain mice (all dead on day 5), a second rise in acylase (Co-A) level was observed on days 3 and 4, much higher than the day-1 values. Among the mice of C3H strain, which is recorded as 'semi-susceptible', some individuals behaved like the susceptible DBA/2. The comparison of serum acylase activity with other liver function tests showed a correlation between Co-A and transaminases (ALT and AST) with C3H and DBA/2 strains, but no correlation with A/JAX resistant strain. gamma-Glutamyltransferase was not detectable in the serum of different strains during the time of experimentations. Our results suggest that Co-A activity correlates with the clinical course, and that Co-A is a sensitive indicator enzyme in the early phase of viral hepatitis.