title: Effects of nebivolol on liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation in Wistar rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of nebivolol on liver fibrosis induced by common bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  After BDL, Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=24): SO, sham-operated animals; BDL, BDL rats without treatment; BDL+N, BDL rats treated with nebivolol for five weeks. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase, total bilirubin and albumin levels were assessed. Liver samples collected were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrom and reticulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mortality reached 37.5% in the BDL group, whereas no deaths were observed in the SO and BDL+N groups. The BDL group showed hepatic damage as evidenced by elevation in serum biochemical parameters and fibrosis scores. These pathophysiological changes were attenuated in the BDL+N group. However, there was no significant difference between these two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nebivolol improved the survival rate of animals with BDL, but was unable to significantly improve liver function or reduce liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Elisabete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Paula Alexandra
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colaço
authors.forename: Adelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carrola
authors.forename: Carlos André
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Aura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colaço
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pires
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000601:surgery*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000068577:Nebivolol; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068577:Nebivolol
keywords: Liver fibrosis; bile duct ligation; nebivolol; nitric oxide; rat model