Antibiotics & glycosaminoglycan metabolism in rats.

The administration of antibiotics to rats resulted in significant alteration in the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAG). The concentrations of the total GAG and most of the fractions increased in the aorta and liver in rats given tetracycline and cephalosporin, but decreased in ampicillin and streptomycin treated groups. The activity of biosynthetic enzymes of GAG in the liver increased significantly with all the antibiotics administered, except streptomycin. The pattern of change in the activity of many of the degrading enzymes of GAG in the liver and aorta was not uniform in different antibiotics administered groups. The changes observed in the activities of biosynthetic and degrading enzymes of GAG in the liver and aorta in different antibiotics administered groups may account for the alterations in the level of GAG observed in different experimental groups.