The Effects of Flax Seed Oil on Chronic Liver Damage Induced Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats and Determination of Hepatic Apoptosis and Caspase Activity

In this study, the protective effect of flax seed oil (FSO) on liver tissue lesions in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in chronic liver injury, caspase activations in cellular apoptosis, serum Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT) activity, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol levels, and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated. Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups as 8 rats in each group. The first group was determined as control. The second group was given 4 ml/kg FSO gavage daily for 12 weeks. The third group received an intraperitoneal CCl4 twice a week 0.2 ml/kg intraperitoneal for 12 weeks. The fourth group received an intraperitoneal dose of 0.2 ml/kg CCl4 twice in the week and simultaneously 4 ml/kg FSO by gavage for 12 weeks. While normal liver tissue structure was observed in the control groups; in the CCl4 group, intense macro and microvesicular steatosis of hepatocytes, mononuclear cell infiltration and mild fibrosis in portal areas were observed. Histopathological changes in FSO applications were similar to the CCl4 group, while caspase 3 and 9 activity decreased to a limited number. Serum ALT activity, which increased significantly due to liver damage in groups treated with carbon tetrachloride, did not decrease in animals that were chronically liver injured and FSO treated (P<0.01). Total cholesterol, triglyceride and liver MDA levels, which increased with decreased serum protein due to liver damage, were also unaffected by FSO applications. In chronic period, significant increases in liver TAC were determined by giving FSO to CCl4 groups (P <0.001). As a result; FSO given to chronic CCl4 toxication group, no curative effect on biochemical data and histopathological lesions on liver injury was observed. It was concluded that new research results are needed to determine the exact effects of using flaxseed oil at different times and doses. Keywords: Histopathology, carbon tetrachloride, immunohistochemistry, pomegranate seed oil, rat. Special Issue of Health Sciences DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-03-37