Hepatoprotective effects of glycine and vitamin E, during the early phase of liver regeneration in the rat

Abstract

Our objective was to demonstrate the protective effect of glycine (Gly) and vitamin E (VE) on a model ofethanol-induced acute liver injury during the early phase of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy(PH) in rats. Fifty male Wistar rats (body weight (b.w.), 240 - 280 g) were divided into four groups (n = 10,each, respectively) as follows: 1) control partial hepatectomy (PH), 70%; 2) PH + ethanol (EtOH) at 1.5g/kg b.w; 3) PH + Gly (0.6 g/kg b.w) + EtOH, and; 4) PH + VE (400 International units [IU]) + EtOH. Twentyfour h after surgery, animals were killed and liver damage and oxidative stress parameters weremeasured. Ethanol caused a decrease in serum albumin (2.27 vs 3.12 g/dL; p < 0.05), cholesterol (31.4vs 48.0 mg/dL; p < 0.05), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, 70 vs 380 UI; p < 0.05), and alanineaminotransferase (ALT, 110 vs 170 UI; p < 0.05) in comparison with the PH control group, but thesedecreases were reverted with either Gly or VE administration. Furthermore, Gly and VE administrationdecreased (p < 0.05) Thiobarbituric acid reactive (TBARS) levels, stimulated superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity, and a significant restitution of liver weight was observed. Our results suggested aprotective effect against liver injury with glycine and VE supplementation. Treatment with either Gly orVE causes an elevation in total SOD activity and a decrease in TBARS levels, showing a protectiveeffect in liver regeneration on a model of ethanol-induced acute liver injury after PH in rats.