An overview of Molecular and biochemical insights of agents used in hepatotoxicity-induced animal models: A Current scenario

Abstract

Cirrhosis is a serious health condition, where along with scar tissue formation there is deposition of collagen in the liver, finally leading to liver failure. It is preceded by liver fibrosis, a dynamic pathological condition that can be decelerated during its early phases. Acute hepatitis is the cause of about 10% cases of liver damage and another 50% result from drug induced hepatic injury. In absence of appropriate clinical management of fibrosis, its progresses to cirrhosis and eventually results in liver failure or primary liver cancer both of which are irreversible conditions. Various in vivo animal models have been developed where hepatic injury is induced by diet, drugs, chemicals or surgical methods. These animal models are routinely employed for the assessment of drugs. But there is a need to discover new methods that will reduce animal sacrifice or be associated with animal recovery. Ex-vivo tissue culture techniques also aid in the evaluation of different stages of cirrhosis. Future research may result in the study of pathology of an individual patient through hepatic decellularisation and hepatic tissue bioengineering.