Hyperlipidemic Chicken as a Model of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Abstract

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is part of the spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), currently the most common cause of abnormal liver tests. Given the difficulty of studying all the factors involved in it in human populations, studies in animal models might provide crucial insights in the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis. Several physiological features predispose birds to fat deposition in the liver. The present study was conceived to explore the possibilities of the chicken fed a cholesterol and fat enriched diet as a model for steatohepatitis. We used two different diets: a standard growing mash (control group) and a standard growing mash enriched with 2% cholesterol and 20% palm oil (hyperlipidemic group). We investigated the effect of feeding a cholesterol and fat enriched diet, on plasma lipid levels, liver enzymes and hepatic histopathology. Semiquantitative and quantitative assessment by image analysis was performed to determine changes in lipid deposits and inflammatory infiltration. Statistically significant increases were observed in all plasma lipid parameters, liver macroscopic features, fat deposits and cell-ballooning of hepatocytes between control and hyperlipidemic animals. Significant differences were also observed in the inflammatory infiltration parameters (number of foci, density, area and maximal diameter). Results show that diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are associated with severe impairment of liver histology (fat accumulation, inflammation and cell-ballooning), reproducing histological features of human NAFLD. This model, which is easy and reproducible, offers economic and technical advantages. Furthermore, the reversibility of the pathologic changes makes it suitable for drug intervention studies of steatohepatitis.

Animal Models of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: Of Mice and Man

“…Although mice or rats are the most frequently used animal species to study NAFLD, non-rodent models of NAFLD have been described in the literature. Feeding chickens a HFD diet enriched in cholesterol and palm oil resulted in increased plasma lipid levels, elevated liver enzymes and a hepatic histopathology consistent with NASH [46] .…”

Assessment of liver steatosis in chicken by using acoustic radiation force impulse imaging: preliminary results

“…Water was given ad libitum. The two groups of animals in this study were given one of two previously established diets [18]: & SD (standard diet) group: a standard growing mash (fat content 4.8%) (healthy control). The weekly amount of this diet was increased with the age of the animals.…”

“…Following the previously described procedure [18], blood samples (1 ml) were extracted after an overnight fasting period from the axillary vein. In all cases, blood was collected into tubes containing 10 mM trisodium citrate.…”

Attenuation of Acetone Induced Liver and Kidney Injury by Ginger and Turmeric Root Powder in Chickens

“…(Liu et al, 1993). In the last several years, chickens have been used and suggested as an animal model for human liver diseases (Ayala et al, 2009;Makovicky et al, 2011). Thus, the safe plantderived natural products, which possess antifibrotic ability can be used to treat liver injury as an alternative choice.…”