A biochemical and immunohistochemical study of the protective effects of carnosine for carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rats

Abstract

We investigated the protective effect of carnosine on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver tissue damage. Thirty-two adult male rats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 was the untreated control, group 2 was injected with 0.2 ml/kg/day carbon tetrachloride, group 3 was injected with with 0.2 ml/kg/day carbon tetrachloride plus 200 mg/kg/day carnosine, and group 4 was injected with 200 mg/kg/day carnosine. Increased serum alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase levels, liver malondialdehyde levels, HSP-70 expression and steatosis were observed following treatment with carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride caused severe biochemical and histopathological changes in liver tissue and treatment with carnosine partially prevented the damage. HSP-70 may help control liver damage.

Keywords: HSP-70; carbon tetrachloride; carnosine; liver; rat.