Effects of Activation of GHSR1a on Hepatic Fibrosis in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

Background: Diabetes is associated with nonalcoholic liver disease, steatohepatitis, and liver cirrhosis with their increased complications. In the current study, ghrelin, the agonist of GHS-R 1a was investigated.Materials and Methods: thirty rats were randomly divided into: control negative, control positive (Diabetic) and acylated ghrelin + T2DM groups each has 10 rats. Serum glucose and insulin, and also, triglyceride to high density lipoproteins (TG: HDL) ratio of all rats were measured to confirm the development of T2DM. Measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers in liver homogenate were performed. Results: In the diabetic group that received ghrelin, tissue MDA levels were sig­nificantly lower than in the diabetic group.  Moreover, serum AST and ALT levels were higher in the diabetic group, but there was a significant decrease in the ghrelin-treated group. These results suggested that GHSR-1a can protect the liver of diabetic rats against the oxidative stress effects.  Conclusion: the antioxidant activity of ghrelin could attenuate diabetic-induced liver fibrosis.