ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the role of zinc sulphate as a hepatoprotective agent in acetaminophen-induced histopathological changes in animal model
Design:Experimental observational study
Setting: Department of Pharmacology and Pathology, ISRA University, Hyderabad and Department of Pathology, Peoples Medical College, Nawabshah
Duration: 1 st December 2009 to 31 st March 2010
Methodology: Ninety healthy albino rats [weight 18-32 g] were divided into three main groups [n=30]. Group A, which served as control, was maintained on 0.9% normal saline; Group B was given acetaminophen 250 mg/kg as a single dose; Group C was maintained on 1-5 mg/kg zinc sulphate for 1-7 days, before a single dose of acetaminophen 250 mg/kg. Biochemical studies were done 6 hours after acetaminophen administration. At the end of the treatment, all animals were weighed and sacrificed, the liver excised for gross and histopathological examination. Data were statistically evaluated using the Chi- square test
Results: The protective effect of zinc was demonstrated with the reduction in the levels of serum concentration of liver enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and serum sorbitol dehydrogenase], with histopathological changes of centrilobular congestion, and hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis. Histopathological assessment showed typical pathological changes of centrizonal necrosis, steatosis, leukocyte infiltration, portal triaditis, and edema in those animals that received acetaminophen only. Pretreatment of the animals with zinc sulphate led to dose- dependent avoidance of these changes
Conclusion: Zinc produces a hepatoprotective effect by preventing the ultrastructural injury of hepatic tissue and the disturbance of free amino acid metabolism caused by a toxic dose of acetaminophen