Biochemical and histopathological effect of probiotics on experimentallyinduced liver fibrosis in rat

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the biochemical effect of probiotics treatment on Thioacetamide (TAA)induced liver fibrosis in rats. Thirty white male Sprague Dewily rats of 8-10 weeks old and Weighing 150 to 200 g wereused in the experiment. Rats were randomly divided in to 2 main groups, 1st group acts as normal control, 2nd group wasinjected with TAA intraperitoneally (200mg/kg b.wt) twice a week for 6 weeks for the induction of liver fibrosis, afterthat the 2nd group was subdivided into 2 subgroups1st subgroup received no drugs and served as positive control, 2ndsubgroup was treated with a daily dose of probiotics (0.0128×109 bacteria per gram of rat body weight) which isequivalent to (135mg/kgb.wt) orally for 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected twice after 3 and 6 weeks of probioticstreatment for biochemical examination, then rats were decapitated and liver specimens were collected forhistopathological examination. Intraperitoneal supplementation of TAA caused increase in serum level of AST, ALT,Tbil, Dbil and pro-inflammatory cytokines as TNFα and IL6, decrease in serum level of Albumin and total protein.Furthermore, histopathological examination revealed extensive degeneration, inflammatory infiltration and nodulation ofthe liver. Probiotics treatment revealed decrease in serum level of ALT, AST, Tbil, Dbil and pro-inflammatory cytokinesas TNFα and IL6, decrease in serum level of Albumin and Total protein. Moreover, histopathological examinationrevealed mild inflammation and less nodulation of the hepatic parenchyma.