Acute high dose Of L-Lysine amino acid leads nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in fresh water fish Clarias batrachus

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to find out the effects of high dose of L-lysine on the fish and also an attempt has been made to predict the impact on human health. L-lysine is an essential amino acid which is used in medical practices as a growth promoter of bones especially in infants. Important work on metabolism and functions of amino acids in human health and major diseases has been reported by many workers and evaluated the key role of various amino acids in response to infections. Lysine is not synthesized by body; therefore, it must be taken either by diet or supplementation. Lysine first of all isolated from casein in 1889 and introduced as Lysine hydrochloride in 1955. The recommended dose of lysine is 12mg/kg body weight. Side effects of Lysine in large doses i.e. 10-30gm/day may cause abdominal cramps and diarrhea but renal and hepatic toxicity is not reported in normal person. Amino acids are used to treat end stage renal failure and also in liver failure. Recently lysine is used to treat herpes and as a supplement for diabetic people. In present study the effect of acute high dose 2mg/100gm body weight of L-lysine in fish shows toxic effects on kidney and liver which is an alarming indication towards use of high dose of Lysine in man. In kidney it caused glomerular dilation of the capillaries, glomerular hemorrhages and cloudy swelling of renal tubules. In liver it leads swelling of hepatocytes, vacuolization, fatty degeneration and central vein dilation. These histopathological changes are supported by marked rise in level of blood urea, serum creatinine, blood sugar and serum cholesterol.