Effects of mytilotoxin-contaminated mussels on leucinaminopeptidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities in rat small intestine, kidney and liver.

An extract of mussels contaminated with Dinophysis was administered to rats 4 or 14 h before experimentation. The leucinaminopeptidase (LAP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activities were determined in samples of small intestine, kidney and liver. LAP activity decreased in the intestine 4 h after administration but returned to normal 14 h post-administration, and GGTP was unaffected. In the kidney brush border, 14 h after treatment, the levels of LAP in male samples and GGTP in both sexes, were increased. No alterations in hepatic enzymatic activity were detected.