Abstract
Background: The relationship between liver diseases and neurological defects is well established. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has been seen both in people with acute liver failure (ALF) and chronic liver disease (CLF). HE is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome that is seen in patients suffering from liver dysfunction. Silymarin (Sm) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic features. In this study, the possible protective effects of silymarin were investigated against dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) damage induced by thioacetamide (TAA).
 Method: To achieve this, male Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 g) were randomly divided into four groups, with 7 animals comprising each group: the control group, 50 mg/kg TAA group, 50 mg/kg Sm + TAA group, and 100 mg / kg Sm + TAA group.
 Results: Differences between the groups were determined by performing immunohistochemical analysis of the PFC. Bax, TNF-α, and TUNEL expression increased in the brain tissue of the experimental group where only TAA was administered.
 Conclusions: It was observed that in high doses in particular (100 mg/kg Sm + TAA group), Sm was effective in preventing PFC damage caused by TAA. It was determined that 100 mg/kg Sm significantly reduces TAA-induced inflammation (TNF-α and H&E) and apoptosis (Bax, TUNEL) in brain tissue.
Highlights
TNF-α, and transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) expression increased in the brain tissue of the experimental group where only TAA was administered
Abnormal behavior and cognition impairment have been observed in the brains of patients suffering from acute and chronic liver failure, which is, in turn, followed by the detection of edema in the brain cells caused by increasing ammonia levels in the blood
This study aims to show brain damage caused by TAA-induced liver damage as well as to throw some light on the protective effect of Sm on the brain in animal models with Hepatic encephalopathy (HE)
Summary
It was observed that in high doses in particular (100 mg/kg Sm + TAA group), Sm was effective in preventing PFC damage caused by TAA. It was determined that 100 mg/kg Sm significantly reduces TAA-induced inflammation (TNF-α and H&E) and apoptosis (Bax, TUNEL) in brain tissue
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