Study of the Antifibrotic Effect of Olmesartan on the Carbon Tetrachloride- Induced liver Toxicity in Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Departments of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

2 Departments of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

3 Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

Abstract

Hepatic fibrosis is a major medical problem in which excessive connective tissue accumulates in the liver; this tissue represents scarring in response to chronic, repeated liver cell injury. Commonly, fibrosis progresses, disrupting hepatic architecture and eventually function, as regenerating hepatocytes attempt to replace and repair damaged tissue. When such disruption is widespread, cirrhosis is occurred. Olmesartan medoxomil is an antihypertensive agent, which has a hepatoprotective effect in man and the administration of olmesartan to patients with mild alcoholic liver disease improved the abnormal liver function tests more rapidly. Fifty adult male albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into 5 groups each group 10 rats. The animal groups received carbon tetrachloride CCL4 except the first group (served as control group) to perform hepatic fibrosis, also the treated groups three, fourth and fifth received olmesartan with different doses in addition to CCL4. Finally, the rats were anesthetized with ether and their abdomens were opened and the livers were dissected and prepared for histological examination by light and electron microscopes.  Also the blood samples were withdrawn to evaluate the liver functions. The results of the present study revealed that administration of CCL4 to the rats produced liver fibrosis and these effects were relatively improved by administration of olmesartan.  

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