RESUMO
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the prophylactic effects of vitamins C and E supplementation, dietary glycine, low level laser therapy and a cluster of the three strategies of therapies on experimental hepatic fibrogenesis induced by carbon tetrachloride [CCI4] using biochemical, immunological and histopathological investigations. In order to achieve this goal, 140 adult male albino rats were used. They were divided into six groups. Group I: Involved 25 rats and served as control group. They received 200 microL olive oil twice a week for 9 weeks. Group II; contained 25 rats received CCI4 twice a week, in a dose of 200 microL/100 grams body weight which was dissolved in olive oil [1:1]. Group Ill; included 25 rats that were treated with CCI4 as in group II and were given a daily oral dose of vitamin E, 50 IU/rat [IU = 0.67 mg alpha-tocopherol], and vitamin C, 2.5 mg/rat. Group IV; comprised 25 rats that were treated with CCI4 as in group II and were given a daily oral dose of glycine, 0.6 gm/kg. Group V; consisted of 20 rats that were treated with CCI4 as in group II. Additionally, the hepatic area of those rats were exposed to infrared pulsated low level laser therapy [LLLT] in four points 3 times a week for 9 weeks. Each point was exposed to LLLT of 500 Hertz, 5 Watt for 30 seconds with a total dose of 7.5 mJoul/cm[2].Group VI; consisted of 20 rats that were treated with CCI4 as in group II and then treated with vitamin E and C as in group III, glycine, group IV as well as LLLT as in group V. Randomly, five rats were collected from each group after 3 and 6 weeks and the rest of animals after 9 weeks post CCI4 treatment. The following parameters weeks measured; serum aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine transaminase [ALT], alkaline Phosphatase [ALP] and gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT] and beta-glucuronidase [beta-Glase] activities Also, rat serum tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha] and transforming factor beta [1TGF-beta1]were measured and Haematoxylin and Eosin [H and E] paraffin sections were done for histopathological examination of liver tissue. The histopathological findings highlighted and confirmed the biochemical and immunological results which demonstrated that as the liver injury progressed from necrosis to cirrhosis via fibrosis, the enzymatic activities levels of serum AST, ALT, ALP and GGT increased progressively and after 9 weeks, there was a highly significant increase of those enzymes, TGB-beta1, TNF-alpha, and beta-glucuronidase [beta-Glase] in the sera of all the five studied groups when compared with that of the normal control group except the level of TNF-alpha in glycine treated group [gp III] and cluster treated group [gp VI]. On the other hand, there was a high significant decrease in the levels of all parameters in the sera of the four studied groups when compared with that of CCI4 ingested group except in the laser group as regards beta-Glase and GGT in which the decrease was insignificant. The decrease was more pronounced in the cluster group [group VI] then vitamins group [group III], then glycine group [group IV] and then laser group. From present findings we can concluded that cluster therapy had prophylactic effects that attenuate liver fibrosis induced by CCI4 in rats. Since more effective new therapeutic options are lacking, patients with serious liver diseases should be encouraged to take vitamin E+ vitamin C+ glycine supplements, which are safe, inexpensive and effective treatment. The biological effect of laser light parameters on various conditions is complex and more research is needed to find the optimal for treatment