The effects of astaxanthin on liver histopathology and expression of superoxide dismutase in rat aflatoxicosis

Abstract

The metabolism of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that destroys hepatocytes. Meanwhile, astaxanthin (AX) is known to have stronger antioxidative activity than other carotenoids. This study aimed to investigate hepatoprotective role of AX from AFB 1 -induced toxicity in rat by histopathological study and immunohistochemistry of Cu/Zn-SOD (SOD1) which acts as the first enzyme in antioxidative reaction against cell injury from ROS. Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The control and AFB 1 groups were gavaged by water for 7 days followed by a single DMSO and 1 mg/kg AFB 1 , respectively. The AXL+ AFB 1 and AXH+ AFB 1 groups were given of 5 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg AX for 7 days before 1 mg/kg AFB 1 administration. The result showed significantly elevated liver weight per 100 g body weight in AFB 1 group. The histopathological finding revealed vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, megalocytosis and binucleation of hepatocytes with bile duct hyperplasia in AFB 1 group. The severities of pathological changes were sequentially reduced in AXL+AFB 1 and AXH+AFB 1 groups. Most rats in AXH+AFB 1 group owned hypertrophic hepatocytes and atypical proliferation of cholangiocytes which are adaptive responses to severe hepatocyte damage. The SOD1 expression was also significantly higher in AXH+AFB 1 group than solely treated AFB 1 and AXL+AFB 1 groups. In conclusion, AX alleviated AFB 1 -induced liver damage in rat by stimulating SOD1 expression and transdifferentiation of cholangiocytes in dose dependent manner.

The protective effect of Nigella sativa seeds against monosodium glutamate-induced hepatic dysfunction in rats

“…This disturbance in redox homeostasis could in turn exert a compensatory regulatory response by up-regulating the antioxidant defensive mechanism ( Chen et al, 2011 ). This is confirmed in our study by positive GR and SOD2 immuno-expression in the hepatocytes, an outcome which is similar to that found in the liver of astaxanthin-challenged rats ( Monmeesil et al, 2019 ).…”

Descriptive Histopathological and Ultrastructural Study of Hepatocellular Alterations Induced by Aflatoxin B1 in Rats

“…The samples were scored quantitatively and semiquantitatively, with assessment based on the visual field inspection of a minimum of 10 sections from each group. Photographs were taken at a magnification of 40×, and the cell numbers of hepatocyte alterations (vacuolar degeneration, binucleated hepatocytes, and megalocytes) were counted in 10 randomized areas (each 1 mm 2 ) [ 16 ].…”

“…In addition, biological functions, such as calcium influx, membrane leakage, and DNA stability, may be affected, which can ultimately lead to cancer [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Furthermore, high levels of ROS can destroy liver hepatocytes [ 16 ]. In addition, aflatoxins are mutagenic and induce carcinogenic effects in the liver and other organs [ 17 ].…”

Astaxanthin attenuates hepatic damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease by up‐regulating the FGF21/PGC‐1α pathway

“…Male C57 (/Rl) mice (20 g ± 0.5 g) were bought from Shanghai SLAC Laboratory Animal Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) and were housed under controlled temperatures, humidity, and lighting with ad libitum food and water. The experimental design was based on earlier work (Liu et al, 2019; Mao et al, 2015; Monmeesil, Fungfuang, Tulayakul, & Pongchairerk, 2019). The mice were randomly distributed into the following six groups: Control group ( n = 7): mice were fed a standard chow diet (CD). HFD group ( n = 7): mice were fed an HFD and received saline by gavage every 2 days in later 10 weeks. HFD + Ax group (n = 7): mice were fed an HFD and received 10, 30, and 60 mg·kg −1 of astaxanthin by gavage every 2 days in later 10 weeks. Negative group ( n = 7): mice were fed an HFD and received a tail‐vein injection of control‐siRNA eight times during the first 4 weeks. siRNA‐FGF21 group ( n = 7): mice were fed an HFD and received a tail‐vein injection of FGF21‐siRNA eight times during the first 4 weeks. siRNA‐FGF21 + Ax group( n = 7): mice were fed an HFD and received a tail‐vein injection of FGF21‐siRNA eight times during first 4 weeks and received 60 mg·kg −1 of astaxanthin by gavage every 2 days during the later 10 weeks. Astaxanthin was dissolved in saline.…”