ANTIOXIDATIVE EFFECT OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) IN THIOACETAMIDE-INDUCED LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

Several studies provided evidence that various prostaglandins exhibite d a hepatoprotective effect in vivo as well in vitro the mechanism of which is still in debate. Therefore, the aim of our studies was to exa mine the effect of PGE(2) on some biochemical and morphological altera tions in chemically induced liver cirrhosis in rats. A micronodular li ver cirrhosis was induced by treatment of rats with thioacetamide for 3 months. Morphologically, the administration of PGE(2) for 8 days red uced the extent of vacuolar transformation of the hepatocytes and the density of the nuclear structure without affecting the fibrotic state as assessed by the hepatic hydroxyproline content. The widening of the sinusoids indicated an improved hepatic microcirculation. Administrat ion of PGE(2) significantly elevated the percentage portion of arachid onic (20:4) and docosapentaenoic (22:5) acid in the hepatic phospholip ids and reduced the ratio 20:3/20:4 fatty acids in comparison to the u ntreated cirrhotic animals. The hepatic MDA concentration was decrease d by 40 % in PGE(2)-treated animals. PGE(2) treatment also reduced the content of polar as well as of non-polar carbonyls when compared with the controls. Moreover, treatment with PGE(2) lowered iron-induced or iron plus ascorbate-induced MDA production of isolated hepatocytes. F rom the data it was concluded that the hepatoprotective effect of PGE( 2) may be related to its antioxidative capacity.