Comparison of Body and Liver Weights in Albino Rats after Treatment with Tamoxifen and Taurine

Objective: To compare the mean body weights and mean absolute and relative liver weights (in Grams) of albino rats after tamoxifen and taurine treatment. Material and Methods: This prospective experimental study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar from July 2011 to December 2011. Sixty adult female albino rats were divided into four groups (A-control, B-tamoxifen-treated, C tamoxifen plus taurine-treated, and D-taurine treated). Each group was further divided into three subgroups (1, 2, 3) according to the period of treatment which was one, three and six weeks, respectively. Body weights were recorded at the commencement of the study. At the end of the respective period of treatment, the body weights were recorded again and the animals were sacrificed under deep ether anesthesia. By a midline incision, the anterior abdominal wall was opened. The livers were removed, washed with normal saline, and their weights were recorded. Results: The data show a moderately significant increase in final body weight in control groups A1 and A2 (P<0.01) and a highly significant increase (P<0.001) in final body weight in control group A3, respectively, as compared to the initial weight in these groups. There was a highly significant decrease (P<0.001) in the final body weight of groups B1, B2 and B3 when compared with the initial body weights within the group and with the control groups A1, A2 and A3 respectively. The data shows a moderately significant increase (P<0.01) in final body weights of C1 and C3 when compared with B1 and B3 respectively and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the final weights of C2 when compared with tamoxifen treated group B2. The mean absolute liver weight showed significant increase (P value < 0.05) in group B1 and B3, and a moderately significant increase (P<0.01) in group B2, when compared with corresponding control groups A1, A2 and A3. There was insignificant decrease in the mean absolute liver weight in group C1 (P>0.5), highly significant decrease (P= 0.001) in group C2 and highly significant decrease (P<0.001) in group C3 when compared with groups B1, B2 and B3 respectively. The mean relative weight was increased significantly (P value <0.05) in group B1 and B2 and highly significantly (P value <0.001) in B3, when compared to control groups A1, A2 and A3 respectively. Compared to groups B1, B2 and B3, the mean relative liver weight was decreased moderately significantly (P<0.01) in group C1, significantly (P<0.05) in C2 and highly significantly (P<0.001) in C3, respectively. Conclusion: Dietary taurine supplementation reduces the loss in mean body weight and decreases the increase in absolute and relative liver weights brought about by tamoxifen treatment in albino rats.