Changes in levels of liver malondialdehyde, liver and serum vitamin E, serum GOT and GPT activities, and pathological changes of liver in the case of massive liver necrosis in rats fed a low casein, vitamin E deficient diet.

Abstract

In these present experiments, rats were fed a low casein, vitamin E and selenium deficient diet and were killed at various time intervals up to the occurrence of massive liver necrosis. Liver malondialdehyde, and liver and serum vitamin E levels were analyzed simultaneously with a pathological investigation of the features of the liver and measurement of serum GOT and GPT activities. These investigations were also performed on control rats given a high casein, vitamin E defincient diet or a low casein, vitamin E supplemented diet.The results show that the liver malondialdehyde level was not increased concomitant with the decrease in liver and serum vitamin E level nor with the occurrence of massive liver necrosis. Liver cells of the rats fed on the low casein, vitamin E deficient diet showed swelling of the cytoplasm at the initial stage, and progressive centrilobular lipid deposition was observed by Sudan III stain.