Hepatic Injury In Rat Model Research Articles

Hepatoprotective Effects of Nasturtium Officinale and Allium Polyanthum Extracts on CCL4- Induced Hepatic Damage In Albino Rats

The aim: This study was designed to explore the potential hepatoprotective effects of Nasturtium officinale and Allium polyanthum plant extracts against CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rat model.
 Methods: Thirty healthy male albino rats were equally divided into 5 groups: Normal control (NC), Positive control (Pos-C), Nasturtium officinale extract (NOE), Allium polyanthum extract (APE), and NOE + APE. The animals were fed with a standard diet and distilled water ad libitum. Except for NC, all other groups were exposed to CCl4 at every 72 hours for 3 weeks to induce hepatic damage. Corresponding treatments were established to the respective groups during study period. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Total serum bilirubin (TSB), Total protein (TP), Albumin (ALB) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in serum at the end of the study. Histopathological analysis of the liver sections was also determined.
 Results: CCl4-treated rats were showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in the levels of serum enzyme activities (AST, ALT, & ALP), TSB and MDA; reflecting the hepatocellular damage caused by CCl4 compared with NC rats, whereas the levels of TP and ALB were decreased. Furthermore, the histological examination of liver tissues showed that CCl4 triggered several histological variations in the liver tissues. Treatments of NOE and APE along with CCl4 for 3 weeks significantly (P<0.05) improved the CCl4-induced changes in serum biochemical parameters and liver histology as compared to Pos-C rats indicating the protection of hepatic cells.
 Conclusion: Treatments of NOE and APE either in separate or in combination have shown significant improvement in CCl4-induced hepatopathy in experimental rats as evidenced by observed results in serum and hepatic histopathological examinations

Chunggan extract, a traditional herbal formula, ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rat model.

To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract (CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury. Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were orally administered 30% ethanol daily for 4 wk with or without CGX. The pharmaceutical properties were assessed through liver enzymes, histopathology, fibrogenic cytokines, and alcohol metabolism in hepatic tissues as well as by in vitro experiment using HSC-T6 cells. Four weeks of alcohol consumption notably increased liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels in serum and hepatic tissue. CGX not only prevented the collagen deposition determined by histopathology and hydroxyproline content, but also normalized transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factor-beta and connective tissue growth factor at the gene expression and protein levels in liver tissue. Moreover, CGX treatment also significantly normalized the abnormal changes in gene expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins, matrix metalloproteinase and their inhibitors, alcohol metabolism, and inflammatory reactions. In the acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, CGX considerably inhibited collagen production and normalized fibrogenic cytokines in both gene expression and protein levels. The present study evidenced that CGX has hepatoprotective properties via modulation of fibrogenic cytokines and alcohol metabolism in alcoholic liver injury.

Effect of ATRA on contents of liver retinoids, oxidative stress and hepatic injury in rat model of extrahepatic cholestasis

The effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) administration on the concentration of retinoids (RA and vitamin A) in liver, oxidative stress and the hepatic injury in a rat model of common bile duct ligation (CBDL)-induced liver injury were investigated. Female rats were subjected to a sham (n=5) or CBDL (n=48). Two weeks after operation, rats undergoing CBDL were randomized to receive treatment with either ATRA at three different doses (0.1, 1.5, 7.5 mg/kg) dissolved in bean oil or only bean oil every day over a 4-week experimental period. Rats were killed and blood samples were collected from the heart for determination of the serum transaminase. The contents of retinoids in rat liver were detected by using HPLC. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in liver were determined by a spectrophotometric method according to the instruction of the kits. Liver pathologic changes were observed under the light microscopy and electron microscopy. The results showed that compared with sham-operated group, the levels of retinoids in the liver tissue were significantly decreased in the CBDL group (P<0.01). ATRA (0.1 mg/kg) administration in CBDL rats partially restored the contents of retinoids (P<0.05). Liver RA and vitamin A contents in CBDL group were significantly increased after ATRA (1.5 and 7.5 mg/kg) supplementation as compared with sham-operated group (P<0.05). However, in ATRA-treated CBDL group, hepatic GSH level and SOD activity, depressed by CBDL, and hepatic MDA level, increased by CBDL were returned to those in sham-operated group (P<0.05). The histologic observation of liver tissues indicated that ATRA treatment notably alleviated hepatocellular swelling, steatosis, the swelling of mitochondria and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). Treatment with ATRA could reduce levels of serum transaminase as compared with sham-operated group, more greatly in 1.5 and 7.5 mg/kg ATRA-treated groups than in 0.1 mg/kg ATRA-treated group. It was concluded that ATRA treatment can recover MDA and GSH levels and SOD activity in CBDL rat liver through restoring RA and vitamin A contents, and eventually ameliorate liver injury.