Vitamin A accelerates the process of liver regeneration in the initial stages of Сu - induced fibrosis

Abstract

Aim: To test the hypothesis about the possible role of vitamin A in normalizing the functional activity of the liver with Cu-induced fibrosis by increasing the regeneration process. Materials and methods: Experiments were conducted on 20 sexually mature male Wistar rats, which were divided into 4 groups: a control group that was not exposed to copper sulfate and vitamin A, a group that was at the initial stage of liver fibrosis, which was provided by three consecutive administrations of copper sulfate at a dose of 1 mg/100 g of weight (one series of injections), a group that was at the stage of intensive development of fibrosis (F2), which was carried out by two consecutive series of copper sulfate injections with an interval of 3 days between injections, and a group that received vitamin A three times daily in a dose of 300 IU/100 g of weight between two series of intoxication. Body weight dynamics, relative liver weight, histological changes in liver tissues and the number of binuclear hepatocytes were determined. Results: It has been found that animals with Cu-induced liver fibrosis did not gain or lose body weight, and the introduction of vitamin A ensured the restoration of body weight growth, and they slightly lagged behind the control group. In animals with liver fibrosis that received vitamin A, the relative weight of the liver was slightly increased and there were 2 times more binuclear hepatocytes. The structural organization of the liver tissue changed to a minor extent, and to the greatest extent there was an increase in the thickness of the Glisson’s capsule, in which immunocompetent cells were incorporated. Conclusions: Vitamin A contributed to the normalization of liver function against the background of the development of fibrosis. The mechanism of normalization can be ensured due to an increase in the number of binuclear hepatocytes, a slight increase in the relative weight of the liver, and was accompanied by an increase in the thickness of the Glisson’s capsule, in which immunocompetent cells were incorporated