Erythrocyte Antioxidants and Hexokinase Activity Alterations in CCl4-Induced Cirrhotic Rats Through Naltrexone Treatment

Fatemeh Sarhadi Kholari; Mitra Nourbakhsh; Golsa Shekarkhar; Ahmad Reza Dehpour; Abolfazl Golestani

doi:10.18502/acta.v61i11.16078

Fatemeh Sarhadi Kholari Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mitra Nourbakhsh Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Golsa Shekarkhar Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Ahmad Reza Dehpour Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abolfazl Golestani Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v61i11.16078

Keywords: Liver cirrhosis; Naltrexone; Antioxidant; Oxidative stress; Carbon tetrachloride

Abstract

Cirrhosis is the consequence of chronic liver injury Considering the crucial role of oxidative stress in the progression of liver cirrhosis, we aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of NTX against oxidative stress in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced cirrhotic rats. Eighty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups (21 rats /group I) receiving CCl₄; (II) NTX+CCl₄; (III) mineral oil (M) (as the control); (IV) NTX+M. The animals in each group were sacrificed in 3 different time-points 2 weeks, 6 weeks (early cirrhosis) and 8 weeks (advanced cirrhosis). Liver function tests, NO metabolites, GSH level, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxides (GPX), and hexokinase (HK) were assessed. NTX was able to ameliorate liver injury, revealed by attenuation of ALT activity, which was significantly enhanced due to cirrhosis induction, as well as pathological evaluation. HK was also increased significantly after treatment with CCl₄ while NTX moderated this increase. Although CCl₄ treatment did not have a significant effect on GSH levels, NTX was able to considerably increase GSH in blood. The activity of CAT and SOD as well as NO levels were all augmented by NTX in CCl₄-treated rats. Naltrexone demonstrates antioxidative effects in liver cirrhosis and may confer a protective effect against hepatic cirrhosis through modulation of oxidative stress.