The role of antioxidant vitamins (C and E), selenium and Nigella sativa in the prevention of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in rabbits: new hopes.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the role of antioxidants such as vitamin C and E, selenium and Nigella sativa (NS) on the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rabbits. It was found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) values in all of the treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control at 12th week of experiment (p < 0.05), while at 6th week and 12th week of experiment glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) values in the vitamin C treated group were significantly different from the control (p < 0.05). Histopathologically, hepatocellular necrosis, degeneration and advanced fibrosis were found in the control group. Lesions were minor and only confined to midzonal regions without centrilobular necrosis and fibrosis in the NS treated animals (group B). The lesions observed in the vitamin C treated animals (group C) were similar to that of the control group. Parenchymal changes with fibrosis were less in selenium and vitamin E treated animals (group D) than in those of the control group, but more obvious than in NS group. Histopathological findings demonstrate that NS might, at least partly, be successful in the prevention of liver fibrosis in rabbits. Vitamin E plus selenium had little therapeutic effect and vitamin C seemed to be ineffective, as far as the results of this study are concerned.

Detection of portal and systemic bacteremia in dogs with severe induced hepatic disease and multiple portosystemic shunts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine existence of portal and systemic bacteremia in dogs with induced severe hepatic disease, compared with clinically normal dogs, before and after vena caval banding. ANIMALS: 6 control dogs and 10 dogs with induced severe hepatic disease and multiple portosystemic shunts (PSS). PROCEDURE: Dogs of the diseased group were given dimethylnitrosamine (2 mg/kg of body weight, PO) twice weekly until multiple PSS developed. Surgery was performed on dogs of both groups, and blood for baseline aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture was collected from catheters placed in the portal and hepatic veins and caudal vena cava. All dogs underwent vena caval banding, and blood for aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture was collected from the portal and hepatic venous catheters at 120, 240, and 360 minutes after banding. RESULTS: Compared with control dogs (16% gram-positive and 84% gram-negative bacteria), diseased dogs had significantly higher percentage of gram-positive bacteria (42% of positive culture results, P < or = 0.01) and significantly lower percentage of gram-negative bacteria (58% of positive culture results, P < or = 0.01) isolated. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated most frequently from dogs of both groups; more than 1 organism was isolated from 5 dogs of each group. Antimicrobial susceptibility included that to aminoglycosides (particularly amikacin), fluorinated quinolones, and imipenem. CONCLUSION: Portal and systemic, predominantly gram-negative, bacteremia is present in catheterized, clinically normal dogs and dogs with dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic disease and multiple PSS.

Rumen involvement in sheep tannic acid metabolism.

Tannic acid (TA) metabolism was studied in sheep after p.o., intra-abomasal and i.p. administration. TA and its phenolic metabolites in ruminal fluid, abomasal fluid, plasma and urine were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography at various intervals post-dosing. After po administration, gallic acid (GA) and pyrogallol (PYR) were present in ruminal fluid and plasma, and GA, PYR and 4-O-methyl gallic acid (40MGA) were found in urine. The concentration of GA in ruminal fluid and urine gradually decreased after dosing, while PYR concentration continued to rise. By contrast, after intra-abomasal dosing, GA and ellagic acid (EA) as well as TA were found in abomasal fluid, GA, 40MGA, EA and TA were present in plasma, and GA, 40MGA and PYR were in urine. The latter 3 metabolites were also detected in the urine after ip administration of TA. The plasma concentration of TA after intra-abomasal administration was significantly correlated with liver necrosis, and PYR concentration in ruminal fluid following po administration was significantly correlated to blood methemoglobin level. It was concluded that the methemoglobinemia seen in sheep given TA po is caused by high levels of the phenolic metabolite PYR, which is produced in the rumen. Liver and kidney necrosis, seen in sheep given TA directly into the abomasum, appears caused by unmetabolized TA rather than by metabolites.

[Serum ornithine transcarbamylase (OCT) activity in experimental liver diseases in the dog]. / L'activité sérique de l'ornithine transcarbamylase (OCT) lors d'hépatopathies canines expérimentales.

Serum ornithine carbamyl transferase (OCT) was evaluated on eighteen dogs. Three groups were used, the first and second ones were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCI(4)) to produce acute hepatic necrosis and cirrhosis. To the third group a ductus choledochus ligation was performed to simulate extrahepatic cholestasis. Ornithine carbamyl transferase has proven its use in all phases of hepatic necrosis, but only after the fourth day in the extrahepatic cholestasis. Finally in cirrhosis, it was sometimes difficult to interpret the results.