Histomorphometric study of rat liver during the treatment of the acute toxic injury

Abstract

Introduction. There are a few effective therapies are available for acute liver injury at present. The aim of the study was to investigate histological and morphometric changes in the liver using models of toxic damage caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) and acetaminophen during correction with Oxymethyluracil (OMU). Material and methods. A total of ninety rats were divided into 18 groups. The treatment of acute liver damage models caused by a single injection of CCl4 or acetaminophen was carried out using “Heptor”, “Mexidol”, and OMU. The correction was carried out twice (sacrificed 24 hours after intoxication) and four times (sacrificed 72 hours after intoxication). Liver tissues were processed using standard histological techniques (H&E). A semi-quantitative assessment was performed using a scale based on the severity of liver cell deaths. Results. Twenty-four hours after administration of CCl4 or 72 hours after administration of acetaminophen, the treatment with OMU led to a decrease in liver cell death compared to the group with administration of only CCl4 or acetaminophen. Seventy-two hours after CCl4 and 24 hours after acetaminophen intoxication, these groups with the OMU treatment did not differ from those of the carbon tetrachloride- or acetaminophen-induced liver injury groups, respectively. Conclusion. Thus, on the model of CCl4 liver injury, the treatment with OMU is more effective for 24 hours. In the case of acetaminophen intoxication, the effectiveness of treatment with OMU is better for 72 hours. The results obtained are possibly associated with a different mechanism of the damaging effect of the studied toxicants.