EFFECT OF METHIONINE ON THE LUNGS RESPIRATORY PART IN RATS OF DIFFERENT AGES

Roman Yanko

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the lungs respiratory part in rats of different ages after methionine administration. The experiments were conducted on 48 male 3 and 15 months old Wistar rats. Animals received 250 mg/kg of methionine daily for 21 days. Lungs tissue samples were taken at the end of the experiment. We used histological, morphometric, biochemical and statistical research methods. It was found that in the lungs of 3-month experimental rats, the area of the alveolus (in 19%) and the relative area of air spaces (in 11%) decreased, and the relative area of the parenchyma and stroma – increased (in 16%) at the end of the experiment. Elevated levels of hydroxyproline in the lung tissue of these rats may indicate an increase in the number of connective tissue elements. In 15-month-old animals treated with methionine the morpho- and biochemical signs of improvement in the functional capabilities of the lungs were observed. Thus, the administration of methionine with young rats reduces the activity of the lungs, and the adult animals, on the contrary, increases.