The morphometrical and immunohistochemical investigation of the effect of topiramate on liver and the role of neuropeptide Y receptor in an obese female rat

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the possible effect of topiramate (TOP, 0.02 mg/kg/day) on the livers in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. The other objective was to evaluate the relationship between TOP administration and NPY level using anti-NPY1R antibody. METHODS: Twenty-four adult female Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups as follow: control (CONT), obese (OBS), TOP, and OBS+TOP. All liver samples were investigated using the stereological analysis, as well as immunohistochemical and histopathological examination. RESULTS: The total number of hepatocytes was signifi cantly decreased in the OBS+TOP group compared to the CONT group or the OBS group (p < 0.05). We found a signifi cant increase in the mean volume of liver in the OBS group compared to the CONT group (p < 0.05). Also, the mean volume of liver was signifi cantly decreased in the OBS+TOP group compared to the OBS group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Taken together, our fi ndings suggest that decreased liver volume is possibly attributed to TOP administration via setting the NPY level in the obese rats. Further, the side effects of TOP in combination with health risk of obesity may have led to an increase in hepatotoxicity and the subsequent hepatocyte loss (Fig. 7, Ref. 56).