Reduction of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxic Effects by Oral Administration of Betaine in Male Han-Wistar Rats: A Morphometric Histological Study

Abstract

Abstract. Eighty-five male Han-Wistar rats were arranged into three groups: CCl 4 -exposed rats, CCl 4 ϩ betaine-exposed rats, and control rats. To see the effect of betaine alone, five rats of the control and of the CCl 4 ϩ betaine groups were sacrificed after 7 days, before exposure to CCl 4 . After that, two of the groups (the CCl 4 and CCl 4 ϩ betaine groups) were exposed to CCl 4 (1 ml/kg per day subcutaneously [SC] for 4 consecutive days), and one of the groups (control group) was given olive oil (1 ml/kg per day SC for 4 consecutive days). At the start of the study (day 0), day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, and 3 days after the last CCl 4 and olive oil injections (day 7), samples of five rats per group were sacrificed, and the livers were taken for chemical analyses and histological examination. Oral betaine, after the acclimation period of a week, increased the number of mitochondria but not mitochondria size (day 0), compared with the case in control rats. Exposure to CCl 4 resulted in centrilobular hepatic steatosis, and the administration of betaine significantly reduced this. Morphometric analyses also revealed that the addition of betaine increased the volume density of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in the perinuclear areas of liver cell cytoplasm (day 7). Additionally, the administration of betaine prevented the reduction of Golgi complexes and mitochondrial figures in the cytoplasm observed after the exposures to CCI 4 . Also, the volume density of mitochondria was smallest in the CCI 4 -group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The results indicate that oral betaine either improves recovery or reduces the toxic effects of CCl 4 on cell organelles in liver cells of male Han-Wistar rats.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Costus Roots Extract against Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4)-Induced Liver Injury in Guinea Pigs

“…CCl 4 is a frequently used model substance for hepatotoxicity studies [31]. It has been well established that CCl 4 is metabolized in the liver to the highly reactive trichloromethyl radical and this free radical leads to auto-oxidation of the fatty acids present in the cytoplasmic membrane phospholipids and causes functional and morphological changes in the cell membrane [32]. The results of the present study show that, CCl 4 intoxication causes a significant elevation of liver enzymes when compared to control animals.…”

Inhibition property of green tea extract in relation to reserpine-induced ribosomal strips of rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) of the rat kidney proximal tubule cells

“…Mitochondrial cristae were near absent, while the outer membrane appeared dissolved and damaged. Other authors have shown similar findings, following the administration of different cytotoxins, such as crude oil, H 2 O 2 , butylated hydeoxytoluene, streptozotocin, alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, and acetaminophen (Akbar, 1996;Al-Nughamish, 1998;Saha et al, 2002;Coll et al, 2003;Junnila et al, 2000;Heinloth et al, 2004). T different mitochondrial shapes observed in this study showed that the structural abnormalities, that may affect mitochondrial function, mainly This would inhibit respiration, reduce amount of ATP for cellular activity, and result in death of the cell.…”

Evaluation of the antioxidant effects of <i>Ziziphus mauritiana</i> lam. leaf extracts against chronic ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rat liver

“…Chronic alcohol consumption exhibited typical signs of fatty liver, with accumulations in fat droplets throughout. It is known that fat accumulation in the liver is a multi-factorial phenomenon thought to be caused by a blockage of lipoproteins secretions; impaired synthesis or peroxidation of phospholipids, or both (Junnila et al, 2000). Pretreatment of rats with 400 mg/kg bw aqueous extract of Ziziphus mauritiana leaf was more effective in protecting rats against necrosis and thrombosis due to chronic alcohol ingestion when compared with 200 mg/kg bw aqueous extract of Ziziphus mauritiana leaf.…”