Experimental cirrhosis of the liver and cytoprotective effects of alpha tocopherol.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether alpha tocopherol (alpha-T) treatment influences liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in the rat.


METHODS
Laboratory experiment.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, Turkey.


METHODS
Fifty rats were divided into three groups. Group I consisted of ten controls; Group II: twenty CCl4 induced cirrhotic rats and Group III: twenty cirrhotic rats treated with Vitamin E.


METHODS
Experimental cirrhosis was induced in rats by subcutaneous administration of 0.4 ml CCl4 (diluted 1:4 with olive oil) per kilogram body weight twice a week for 12 weeks.


METHODS
Histopathologically evaluation of liver, liver malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase levels and aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) levels.


RESULTS
Histopathologic evaluation of liver samples demonstrated cirrhotic changes in CCl4 treated groups. The enzyme levels in Group II were significantly increased (p < 0.05) but it was insignificantly lower in the alpha tocopherol treated group III. In Group II, statistically significant increase in liver malondialdehyde levels was determined (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that alpha-T administration may protect liver against CCl4 induced cirrhosis.
Cantürk
Z
Z
Kocaeli University, Medical School, Department of Internal Medicine, Turkey.
Cantürk
N Z
NZ
Ozbilim
G
G
Yenisey
C
C
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride