ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the effect of vitamin E (VE) and selenium (Se) on liver fibrosis and antioxidative function in the carbon tetrachloride induced rats. Methods: 48 normal male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (16 rats / group): intervention group, pathological group and control group. The control group was injected with normal saline; the others were given intraperitonally CCl 4 (diluted with an equal volume of olive oil). The rats in the intervention group were fed with chow supplemented with VE (250 mg/kg) and Se(0.2 mg/kg), and the others were given standard chow. All rats were put to death after 8 w injection. Tissue sections were stained with routine HE and Masson trichrome collagen; the markers of liver fibrosis and antioxidative function were detected and the changes of these markers were observed. Results: As compared with rats in pathological group, a lower degree of fiber proliferation occurred in the rats in intervention group. The serum levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and the content of hydroxyproline in the liver tissue were significantly lower; the rats in intervention group had a higher ability of anti oxidation, and the activity of SOD (superoxide dismutase) in the liver tissue and serum and GPX (glutathione peroxidase) in erythrocyte were higher, and the MDA (malondialdehyde) levels in tissue and serum levels were significantly lower. Conclusion: The adequate dietary supplement of VE and selenium could elevate the ability of anti oxidation and the proliferative degree of collagenous fibers in liver was significantly reduced.