Resveratrol ameliorates hepatic injury and modulates hepatic biomarkers of regeneration, apoptosis and survival in a rat model of blunt hepatic trauma

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective potential of resveratrol (RES) in blunt hepatic trauma (BHT) by exploring the anti-infl ammatory and histopathologic effects as well as modulatory effects on hepatic biomarkers of acute injury, regeneration, apoptosis and survival in a rat model of BHT. METHODS: A total of 21 Wistar Albino rats (weighing 120-250 g) were separated into 3 groups (n = 7 for each group), namely control group (CON; standard feeding), BHT group (BHT; blunt hepatic trauma plus observation) and trauma plus BES group (BHT-RES; blunt hepatic trauma plus intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg RES). Serum levels for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and bilirubin were measured on Day 7 and rats were sacrifi ced for histopathological (infl ammation scores) and immunohistochemical [expression of proliferation marker (Ki-67) and apoptosisrelated markers (Bcl-2, and Bax)] analyses in resected liver tissue. RESULTS: The highest levels for serum AST (p = 0.002), ALT (p = 0.002) and LDH (p = 0.002) were obtained from BHT group of rats, as followed by BHT-RES and control groups, respectively. The highest scores for Ki 67 (p = 0.002 for each), Bcl 2 (p = 0.002 for each) and Bax (p = 0.002 for each) were obtained from BHT-RES group of rats, as followed by BHT and control groups, respectively. Infl ammation scores were signifi cantly higher in BHT vs BHT-RES group (2.42 ± 0.53 vs 1.42 ± 0.53; p = 0.001) and both groups had higher infl ammation scores than the control group (0.0 ± 0.0; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our fi ndings revealed for the fi rst time that RES exerts promising hepatoameliorative effects against blunt hepatic injury as evidenced by decreased infl ammation scores, parallel with improved hepatic histology, decreased serum transaminase activity as well as enhanced modulatory effect on regenerative and apoptotic processes in RES-treated rats subjected to experimentally-induced blunt hepatic trauma.