Methylprednisolone prevents bacterial translocation in thioacetamide-induced liver failure in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Steroids have been shown to prevent intestinal oxidative stress. We investigated the effects of methylprednisolone on intestinal oxidative damage and bacterial translocation in thioacetamide-induced liver failure in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Group 1 (n=8) was the control group. In group 2 (n=8), the thioacetamide group, rats received 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal thioacetamide daily for 2 days. In group 3 (n=8), the thioacetamide+methylprednisolone group, treatment with methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneal) was commenced 48 h before the first dose of thioacetamide. In group 4 (n=8), the methylprednisolone group, the rats received only methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg intraperitoneal). RESULTS Serious hepatic and intestinal oxidative damage and high bacterial translocation frequencies were observed in the thioacetamide group compared with those of the controls. Bacterial translocation frequency in the thioacetamide+methylprednisolone group was significantly lower than that in the thioacetamide group (p<0.05). Intestinal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and myeloperoxidase levels and tissue damage scores for the intestines in the thioacetamide+methylprednisolone group were lower than those in the thioacetamide group (p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that methylprednisolone reduces bacterial translocation by preventing intestinal oxidative damage in this model of acute liver failure in rats.