Protective effects of vitamin E on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

In this study we investigated whether the increase of hepatic vitamin E con tent by intraperitoneal administration, influences chronic liver damage ind uced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The first group was used as a control and t he rats in the second group were administered CCl4 in olive oil subcutaneou sly. Rats in the third group were administered intraperitoneally vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate, 100 mg kg(-1)). This administration was perfo rmed three times per week for five weeks. Liver samples were used for the d etermination of vitamin E levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activities and histological examination. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline p hosphatase, aspartate amino transferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, tota l and conjugated bilirubin were significantly (p < 005, p < 0.01, p < 0.001 ) higher in animals treated with CCl4 than in the controls and had returned to normal values by the administration of vitamin E + CCl4. Liver vitamin E levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the CCl4 group than in he c ontrol group. However, the liver vitamin E content was significantly (p < 0 .01, p < 0.001) increased in the vitamin E + CCl4 injected group. On the ot her hand, liver GSHPx activity was not statistically different among the gr oups. On histological examination, vitamin E administered animals showed in complete, but significant, prevention of liver necrosis and cirrhosis induc ed by CCl4. these data indicate that intraperitoneally administered vitamin E has protective effects against CCl4-induced chronic liver damage and cir rhosis as evidenced by biochemical data and conventional histological exami nation. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.