Mitigation of Methimazole-Induced Hepatic Injury by Taurine in Mice

Abstract

Methimazole is the most widely prescribed antithyroid medication in humans. However, hepatotoxicity is a deleterious adverse effect associated with methimazole administration. No specific protective agent has been developed against this complication yet. This study was designed to investigate the role of taurine as a hepatoprotective agent against methimazole-induced liver injury in mice. Different reactive metabolites were proposed to be responsible for methimazole hepatotoxicity. Hence, methimazole-induced liver injury was investigated in intact and/or enzyme-induced animals in the current investigation. Animals were treated with methimazole (200 mg/kg, by gavage), and hepatic injury induced by this drug was investigated in intact and/or enzyme-induced groups. Markers such as lipid peroxidation, hepatic glutathione content, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in plasma, and histopathological changes in the liver of animals were monitored after drug administration. Methimazole caused liver injury as revealed by increased plasma ALT. Furthermore, a significant amount of lipid peroxidation was detected in the drug-treated animals, and hepatic glutathione reservoirs were depleted. Methimazole-induced hepatotoxicity was more severe in enzyme-induced mice. The above-mentioned alterations in hepatotoxicity markers were endorsed by significant histopathological changes in the liver. Taurine administration (1 g/kg, i.p.) effectively alleviated methimazole-induced liver injury in both intact and/or enzyme-induced animals.

Concurrent Inflammation Augments Antimalarial Drugs-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

“…35,51 As bilirubin level didn't change significantly in the current investigation (Figure 3), we might be able to declare that the nature of antimalarial drugs-induced hepatotoxicity in the drug-inflammation interaction model is predominantly of the hepatocellular type rather than cholestatic. 35,51 The role of peroxidase enzymes in adverse drug reactions has been reviewed previously. 52 MPO is a peroxidase enzyme present in neutrophils, monocytes, and tissue macrophages (Figure 6).…”

“…After centrifugation in 765g for 5 minutes, the absorbance of developed color in n-butanol phase was measured at 532 nm using an Ultrospec 2000 ® UV spectrophotometer. 35 …”

Sulfasalazine-Induced Hepatic Injury in an Ex Vivo Model of Isolated Perfused Rat Liver and the Protective Role of Taurine

“…Mindray BS-200 ® auto analyzer and Pars Azmun ® standard kits were used to measure ALT, AST, and LDH in liver perfusate at different time points. 27,28 Perfusate K + level was analyzed by an IL943-Flame Photometer (Sysmedlabs ® ).…”

Propylthiouracil-Induced Liver Injury in Mice and the Protective Role of Taurine

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