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Effect of Dietary Nucleotides on Degree of Fibrosis and Steatosis Induced by Oral Intake of Thioacetamide

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Abstract

The administration of thioacetamide in ratsinduces nodular cirrhosis of the liver, characterized byfibrous septae, parenchymal nodules, proliferation ofthe bile ducts, and excessive deposition of connective tissue elements. Nodular cirrhosis is alsoassociated with changes in lipid metabolism, as shown bythe accumulation of lipid droplets in the hepatocytecytoplasm. Adequate nutritional support during cirrhosis is important to sustain liver function andpromote recovery after the lesions have been induced.Supplementation with nucleotides may increase cellularproliferation and thus optimize hepatic recovery. The aim of this study was to investigate theeffects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on thedegree of fibrosis and steatosis in rats with livercirrhosis induced by four months of oral intake ofthioacetamide. The use of dietary nucleotides afterthioacetamide administration was found to decrease thepercentage area of fibrous septae. In animals with livercirrhosis fed the nucleotidesupplemented diet for two weeks, the total area of fibrosis was reduced.Withdrawal of the hepatotoxic agent led to a decrease inthe degree of steatosis in cirrhotic animals, which wassignificant in rats given the nucleotide-supplemented diet during a two-week recovery period. Inconclusion, dietary nucleotides may be an importantfactor in the histological recovery of damaged liver inexperimental cirrhosis.

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Authors
  1. M. I. Torres
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  2. M. I. Fernandez
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  3. A. Gil
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  4. A. Rios
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Torres, M.I., Fernandez, M.I., Gil, A. et al. Effect of Dietary Nucleotides on Degree of Fibrosis and Steatosis Induced by Oral Intake of Thioacetamide. Dig Dis Sci 42, 1322–1328 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018882913983

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018882913983

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