EFFECTS OF LEUKOTRIENE SYNTHESIS INHIBITION ON ACUTE LIVER-DAMAGE INDUCED BY CARBON-TETRACHLORIDE

Administration of the leukotriene synthesis inhibitors nordihydroguaia retic acid (NDHGA, 30 mg/kg), caffeic acid (20 mg/kg) or nafazatrom (1 00 mg/kg) and of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor and free radical trap per dipyridamole (10 mg/kg) prevented the alterations in enzyme activi ty displayed by acute CCl4 administration. The effect was less evident in preventing hepatic glycogen depletion or lipid peroxidation. A syn ergistic protective effect between dipyridamole and NDHGA or caffeic a cid was observed. In conclusion, the present results show that acute h epatic damage induced by CCl4 can be partially prevented by leukotrien e synthesis inhibitors and the protection is enhanced with the simulta neous use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors.