Protective effect of vitamin E in rats with acute liver injury.
We have previously shown that supplemental vitamin E has a cytoprotective effect in the liver of rats with chronic CCL4-induced liver cirrhosis. In this study, we hypothesized that vitamin E would have a protective effect in acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine. D-Galactosamine-induced injury has been thought to be due to a synergistic direct toxic effect and presence of intestinal bacteria and/or endotoxins. D-Galactosamine was used to induce acute "hepatitis" (1.5-2.0 g/Kg body weight, ip). Rats were placed on either standard chow or the same chow supplemented with vitamin E (300 mg DL-alpha-tocopherol/Kg diet) and 6 days later were given D-galactosamine. There was significantly improved early (5-day) survival and late (14-day) survival in the vitamin E-supplemented group. The vitamin E beneficial effect was manifested also by decreased liver fat and collagen content and decreased SGPT level. Because bacterial endotoxins have been implicated as playing a role in the pathogenesis of D-galactosamine hepatitis, the same experiment was carried out using germ-free and conventional rats. There was significantly improved survival in both the germ-free and conventional vitamin E-supplemented groups both at 5 and 14 days. There was no significant difference between conventional and germ-free rats with or without vitamin E supplementation. In summary (a) vitamin E improves the early fat and collagen accumulation in the liver, decreases SGPT level, and improves survival in the D-galactosamine experimental model of acute liver injury in both conventional and germ-free rats; and (b) D-galactosamine toxicity is probably not mediated through intestinal bacteria and/or endotoxins.
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005688:Galactosamine; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014810:Vitamin E; D005688:Galactosamine; D003094:Collagen; D000410:Alanine Transaminase