The use of 99mTc-phytate for assessment the protective effect of Vitamin E against hepatotoxicity induced by methotrexat in rat

Abstract

Hepatotoxicity is one of the most common side effects of methotrexate (MTX) therapy in patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin E against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity using 99mTc-phytate as a radiopharmaceutical agent in animals. Rats were divided into five groups as follows: control, solvent, Vit E (100 mg/kg), MTX (20 mg/kg) and Vit E + MTX. Animals were intraperitoneally injected with Vit E for 17 days before MTX injection and continued for 4 days. 99mTc-phytate was injected into the tail of rats after the 21 days of Vit E administration. Percentage of the injected dose per gram of liver and spleen tissues (%ID/g) was calculated in treated rats. Liver imaging was obtained with gamma camera. In other experiment, liver of treated rats was assessed for histopathology. 99mTc-phytate uptake (%ID/g) of livers in control, solvent, Vit E, MTX and Vit E + MTX groups were 8.99% ± 1.37, 8.53% ± 2.91, 8.65% ± 3.84, 3.22% ± 1.09 and 8.38% ± 2.68. Vit E administration resulted in a significant increase of the level of %ID/g in MTX-injected animal. Vit E pre-treatment improved the shape of liver in MTX-treated rat which was seen abnormal view in planar imaging. Histophatological examinations approved the protective effect of Vit E against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The results of this study show that Vit E significantly attenuates the MTX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, and 99mTc-phytate is an acceptable radiopharmaceutical agent for assessment of liver and spleen damages in the animal model.