Protective role of Zinc in liver cirrhosis: study in rats

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Zinc supplementation on different biochemical parameters in thioacetamide induced cirrhotic rats. For this purpose, 24 male Albino wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=6). Group I, remained healthy control rats, Group II, received thioacetamide (at a dose of 200mg/kg b.w, i.p, for 12 weeks, twice a week) in first phase and saline in second phase, Group III, received thioacetamide (200mg/kg b.w, i.p for 12 weeks, twice a week) in first phase and zinc sulphate (intraperitoneally at a dosage of 6mg/kg b.w/ day for 6 weeks)   in second phase and Group IV, received  zinc sulphate (intraperitoneally at a dosage of 6mg/kg b.w/ day for 6 weeks) in first phase and saline in second phase. Biochemical analysis was evaluated by total and direct bilirubin (Sherlock, 1951), liver specific enzymes (Retiman and Franhel, 1957), antioxidant enzymes [SOD (Kono et al., 1978), Catalase (Sinha et al., 1979), Glutathione reductase (Calberg and Mannervik, 1985), and MDA (Okhawa et al., 1979)] and plasma and intraerythrocyte sodium and potassium. Marked increase in total and direct bilirubin and ALT activity was the indicative markers of liver cirrhosis while reduced antioxidant activity (SOD and GSH) and increased MDA and Catalase levels and disturbed electrolyte homeostasis were observed in cirrhotic group. Zinc supplementation markedly reduced total bilirubin and ALT activity and restored the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GSH), MDA and catalase activity and electrolyte homeostasis. These results indicate that zinc successively attenuates the thioacetamide induced liver cirrhosis.