In study, we investigated effects on pyruvate kinase activity following prolonged low amounts administrations in drinking water of some nitrosamines in rats.

Rats were divided into four groups and each group had 12 animals. Group I was control group. Groups 2, 3 and 4 administered N-Nitrosodiethylamine (N-NDEA), 1-Nitrosopiperidine (1-NPip) and N-Nitrosopyrolidine (N-NPyr) at the amount of 200 ppb with drinking water for 30 successive days, respectively. Pyruvate kinase activities in blood, liver and kidney tissue samples were measured according to the method of Beutler following the administrations. No changes in blood pyruvate kinase activity were observed during prolonged administrations of N-NDEA, 1-NPip and N-NPyr in rats according to the control group. While administration of N-NDEA in liver and kidney tissues wasn't significantly change at enzyme activity, it was found significantly decrease in pyruvate kinase activities of liver (p<0.05) and kidney (p<0.05) tissues in 1-NPip and N-NPyr prolonged treated group in rats according to the control group.

In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that prolonged administration of nitrosamines in rats, especially 1-NPip and N-NPyr decreased pyruvate kinase activities in liver and kidney. It was remind that carbohydrate metabolism could be destroyed with decrease of pyruvate kinase activity, turn towards to different metabolic pathways of glucose. Therefore, it is important to remind that nitrosamine exposure of different resources particularly water may cause serious health problems and thus it requires necessary attention.