Protective Effect of Vitamin D3 on Changes of Liver Tissue and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Adult Male Rats Treated with Thioacetamide

Vitamin D has recently been shown to not only participate in calcium metabolism but also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin D3 on changes of liver tissue, liver transaminases and some blood biochemical parameters in adult male rats treated with thioacetamide.

Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats were grouped into 6 groups of 8. The control group did not receive any treatment, but the sham group 0.2 ml of distilled water as the drug solvent, the experimental group 1 (Exp1) 1000 IU/kg vitamin D3, the Exp2 50 mg/kg thioacetamide, the Exp3 500 IU/kg Vitamin D3 and 50 mg/kg thioacetamide and Exp4 1000 IU/kg Vitamin D3 and 50 mg/kg thioacetamide received by orally gavage for 25 days. At the end of the study, body weight, liver weight, serum levels of liver transaminases (ALT, AST and GGT) and blood biochemical parameters (ALP, total protein and albumin) were measured. Also, liver tissues were evaluated histopathologically.

Thioacetamide did not cause significant changes in liver weight and ALP serum levels but caused significant changes in body weight, serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT, albumin and total protein in Exp2, 3 and 4. In Exp3 and 4 degrees of improvement in body weight and serum levels were observed in a dose-dependent manner. In the Exp2 necrosis and severe destruction of liver tissue were observed, but in the Exp3 and 4, improvement in necrosis and cell damage was observed in a dose-dependent manner.

Vitamin D3 at maximum dose (1000 IU/kg) has protective effects on liver tissue and improves liver tissue, serum levels of liver transaminases and blood biochemical parameters and in thioacetamide-treated rats.