Potential hepato-protective effect of α-tocopherol or simvastatin in aged rats.

BACKGROUND The effect of α-tocopherol or simvastatin treatment on antioxidant defense in liver of old rats was investigated. METHODS Endogenous thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total nitrite/nitrate (NO(2)/NO(3)) levels as well as non-enzymatic glutathione (GSH) and enzymatic antioxidants [glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) activities] were determined in the livers of young (3 months), aged (22 months), α-tocopherol- or simvastatin-treated aged rats. Serum lipid profile and liver function parameters were also assessed in these 4 groups. RESULTS Both α-tocopherol and simvastatin almost equally restored the age-induced changes in liver TBARS and CAT activity, serum aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). α-Tocopherol, but not simvastatin, tended to restore GST and GPX activities in livers of aged rats. Simvastatin, on the other hand, counteracted age-induced increases in serum cholesterol, TG, LDL, total hepatic NO(2)/NO(3) level, and preserved a normal liver function during aging. CONCLUSION Thus, either drug may be beneficial, in spite of a mechanistic difference in the antioxidant effect of both of them, in alleviating age-induced liver injury.