CHANGES IN PROTEIN METABOLISM IN RATS UNDER CONSUMPTION OF DRINKING WATER WITH NITRATES AND HARDNESS SALTS

Abstract

Introduction. Human body receives many different chemicals with drinking water. But there are those that in excessive quantities can adversely affect the body of consumers. Such substances include nitrates or salts of nitric acid, which are extremely common in the environment. In addition to nitrates, the most preferred chemical compounds, which are determined in groundwater in quantities exceeding the standards, are hardness salts.

The aim of the study – to learn the effect of drinking water with normative and above-standard content of nitrates and hardness salts in combination at the level of 1, 3, 5 and 10 MPC on protein metabolism in experimental animals in the conditions of subacute experiment.

Research Methods. The experiment was performed on 30 white female rats, divided into 5 groups, which differed in drinking water quality. The animals of the control group used water from the city water supply, group 1 – water containing calcium and magnesium in combination with nitrates in the amount of 1 MPC, group 2 – 3 MPC, group 3 – 5 MPC, group 4 – 10 MPC. Serum protein, creatinine, urea, and aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were determined in serum to assess protein metabolism in experimental animals.

Results and Discussion. As a result of 30 days of drinking water with normative and excessive content of nitrates and hardness salts revealed changes in the level of certain biochemical parameters of protein metabolism, namely an increase in total protein, creatinine and transaminases and urea. The changes were most pronounced in animals of group 4 (p <0.05).

Conclusion. Given the long-term consumption of such drinking water, it can be expected that the established changes can lead to the development of pathological processes and the emergence of diseases in animals and humans.