PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON LIVER INJURY INDUCED BY DEXAMETHASONE IN MICE

Background & Aims: Dexamethasone (Dex) is one of the most commonly used synthetic glucocorticoidbut its excessive intake can cause severe changes in liver function. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on Dex-induced hepatic injury in mice. Materials & Methods: 24 adult male NMRI mice (36±2gr) were divided randomly into 4 groups (n=6): control, dexamethasone (7mg/kg/day i.p.), pentoxifylline (100mg/kg/dayi.p.), and dexamethasone+pentoxifylline. After 7 days of treatment, the mice were anesthetized and their liver was removed and weighed. Then liver tissue elements were evaluated by stereological technique. The serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity, and liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) were also measured. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA and Tukey’s test using SPSS soft (version 16) and means were considered significantly different at p<0.05. Results: A significant decrease in the mean volume of the hepatocytes and their nuclei, total number of hepatocyte cells (p<0.01) and serum total antioxidant capacity (p<0.001) and a significant increase in total volume of sinusoids, bile duct, hepatic artery and the mean levels of Serum MDA, ALT, AST were observed in Dex group compared to the control groups (p<0.01). Dex-induced liver damage improved in the Dex+ PTX group to the same extent as the control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our results revealed that PTX can improve the toxic effects of Dex on mice liver tissue possibly by reducing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and increasing total antioxidant capacity.