Effects of natural and recombinant interferon on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver cirrhosis

Carbon tetrachloride [CCl[4]] is a well-known hepatotoxicant that is used to develop a model of liver cirrhosis in rats. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of chronic treatment with natural or recombinant interferon [IFN], Ismafron or Roferon, respectively, on CCl[4]-induced liver cirrhosis in rats. Seventy male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the current study; animals were divided into three major groups, Group I, non-treated animals; Group II, normal animals treated with Ismafron, Roferon or liquid paraffin [the vehicle of CCl[4]]; Group III, cirrhotic animals; the cirrhotic rats were divided into 3 subgroups, cirrhotic animals treated with Ismafron, cirrhotic animals treated with Roferon, and untreated cirrhotic animals. Liver cirrhosis was induced in rats after 10 weeks of treatment with CCl[4] at a dose of 0.3 ml/100 g body weight twice a week. Two weeks of treatment with Ismafron [10,000 IU/rat/day] or Roferon [50,000 IU/rat/day] could decrease the serum activities of the enzymes alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT], and suppress the serum level of procollagen III. Furthermore, treatment with Ismafron or Roferon decreased fibrosis and inflammation of cirrhotic livers. It is concluded that treatment with Ismafron or Roferon could normalize the above serum markers of liver cirrhosis and enhance the histological picture of the liver in CCl[4]-treated rats

Differential alcohol consumption in food-deprived competing rats

Many studies have been conducted to further the understanding of factors influencing alcohol consumption. The purpose of the current study was to investigate: [1] The competitive behavior of food-deprived rats housed as fixed pairs and competing for food. [2] The correlation between the animal's specific competition score, within its specific dyad, and its individual chronic alcohol consumption, when given a free access to 10% [w/v] alcohol or water. [3] Differential chronic alcohol consumption of winners and losers of rat dyads. [4] The effect of alcohol withdrawal on the competitive behavior of animals. Forty male rats were used in this study; thirty animals composed 15 fixed dyads, and 10 animals served as a control. Each pair of food-deprived animals was tested in the home cage for food competition. Eleven out of 15 dyads established a stable dominance hierarchy, winners and losers. These animals were then housed individually and had free access to 10% [w/v] alcohol and water for 4 hours a day over a period of 14 days. Daily alcohol consumption was recorded for each subject. It was found that the total amount of alcohol consumed by winners was significantly higher than that of losers [Winners, 39.2 +/- 2.3 ml vs Losers, 31.8 +/- 2.27ml, p