RESUMEN
To study the protective role of beta carotene against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Laboratory based randomized control trial. Department of Anatomy Army Medical College, Rawalpindi; in collaboration with National Institute of Health [NIH], Islamabad. The study duration was one year from Feb, 2009 to Jan, 2010. Sixty young adult [4-6 weeks old] Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 180-240 g were randomized into three groups. Control group C was given NIH laboratory diet, experimental group A was given toxic dose of acetaminophen 700 mg/kg body weight once daily and experimental group B was given beta carotene 30 mg/kg body weight once daily along with 700 mg/kg body weight acetaminophen once daily for one week. Liver specimens were collected 24 hours after the last dose. Five micron thick sections of liver were stained with H and E for histomorphological study. Microscopic examination demonstrated various grades of periportal and spotty necrosis in experimental group A as compared to control group C. In experimental group B, there was significant attenuation [P-value < 0.001] in periportal and spotty necrosis. It was concluded that beta carotene has hepatoprotective role on histomorphology of liver in acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats