Protective effects of vitamin E on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

Abstract

In this study we investigated whether the increase of hepatic vitamin E content by intraperitoneal administration, influences chronic liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The first group was used as a control and the rats in the second group were administered CCl₄ in olive oil subcutaneously. Rats in the third group were administered intraperitoneally vitamin E (dl-α-tocopherol acetate, 100 mg kg⁻¹). This administration was performed three times per week for five weeks. Liver samples were used for the determination of vitamin E levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities and histological examination.

Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, total and conjugated bilirubin were significantly (p<0·05, p<0·01, p<0·001) higher in animals treated with CCl₄ than in the controls and had returned to normal values by the administration of vitamin E + CCl₄ . Liver vitamin E levels were significantly (p<0·05) lower in the CCl₄ group than in the control group. However, the liver vitamin E content was significantly (p<0·01, p<0·001) increased in the vitamin E + CCl₄ injected group. On the other hand, liver GSHPx activity was not statistically different among the groups. On histological examination, vitamin E administered animals showed incomplete, but significant, prevention of liver necrosis and cirrhosis induced by CCl₄ . these data indicate that intraperitoneally administered vitamin E has protective effects against CCl₄-induced chronic liver damage and cirrhosis as evidenced by biochemical data and conventional histological examination. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.