Retinyl-palmitate reduces liver fibrosis induced by biliary obstruction in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The administration of retinoid in various experimental models of induced hepatic cirrhosis has shown antifibrogenic effects. The purpose of this study was to verify if vitamin A could interfere in hepatic fibrosis induced by biliary obstruction.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats that underwent biliary obstruction were treated 2 weeks before the surgery with a dose of 50 x 10(3) IU retinyl-palmitate, twice a week, and then given the dosage for 5 weeks following surgery. They were then sacrificed and hepatic fragments removed to find out the biochemical dosage of hydroxyproline and the stereologic volume of collagen. Blood samples were also collected to find the biochemical dosage.


RESULTS
The rats that underwent biliary obstruction and received vitamin A presented lower levels of hepatic hydroxyproline (p < 0.001) as well as a lower percentage of collagen tissue than the untreated control rats, but they presented higher AST and ALT serum levels (p < 0.05, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Under the above experimental conditions, the administration of vitamin A significantly reduced hepatic fibrosis.
de Freitas Junior
Segirson
S
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil. segirson.freitas@merconet.com.br
Bustorff-Silva
Joaquim Murray
JM
Castro e Silva Junior
Orlando
O
Jorge
Gracinda de Lourdes
Gde L
Leonardi
Luiz Sérgio
LS
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications*; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004224:Diterpenes; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline