Effect of a urinary preparation on liver injury by short-term carbon tetrachloride treatment in rats

The hepatoprotective effect of a preparation of human urine (PHU) was asses sed against short-term carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment in rats. Signi ficant prevention of liver injury by PHU was found after CCl4 treatment, ju dging by the changes of serum biochemical parameters, and hepatic protein a nd triglyceride contents. The increased liver lipid peroxidation, and decre ased liver vitamin C concentrations observed after CCl4 treatment were sign ificantly prevented by PHU administration. The increase in liver glutathion e (GSH) contents observed after CCl4 treatment was further increased by PHU treatment. Liver catalase activity decreased after CCl4 treatment, while l iver superoxide dismutase and GSH-peroxidase activities did not change. PHU administration further inhibited the decrease in liver catalase activity a fter CCl4 treatment. These results indicate that PHU administration can pre vent liver injury induced by CCl4 in rats by inhibiting enhanced lipid pero xidation and by improving disrupted active oxygen metabolism in the injured liver.