PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON LIVER INJURY INDUCED BY DEXAMETHASONE IN MICE

Dexamethasone (Dex) is one of the most commonly used synthetic
glucocorticoidbut its excessive intake can cause severe changes in liver function. The purpose of the
study was to investigate the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on Dex-induced hepatic injury in mice.
Materials & Methods: 24 adult male NMRI mice (36±2gr) were divided randomly into 4 groups (n=6):
control, dexamethasone (7mg/kg/day i.p.), pentoxifylline (100mg/kg/dayi.p.), and
dexamethasone+pentoxifylline. After 7 days of treatment, the mice were anesthetized and their liver was
removed and weighed. Then liver tissue elements were evaluated by stereological technique. The serum
levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity, and liver enzymes including alanine
aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) were also measured. The data were
analyzed by one wayANOVA and Tukey’s test using SPSS soft (version 16) and means were considered
significantly different at p<0.05.
Results: A significant decrease in the mean volume of the hepatocytes and their nuclei, total number of
hepatocyte cells (p<0.01) and serum total antioxidant capacity (p<0.001) and a significant increase in
total volume of sinusoids, bile duct, hepatic artery and the mean levels of SerumMDA, ALT, AST were
observed in Dex group compared to the control groups (p<0.01). Dex-induced liver damage improved
in the Dex+ PTX group to the same extent as the control group (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Our results revealed that PTX can improve the toxic effects of Dex on mice liver tissue
possibly by reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and increasing total antioxidant capacity.