Protective Role of Taurine on Tamoxifen-induced liver damage in Rats: A Morphological Study

Abstract

Objective: To study the protective role of taurine in tamoxifen- induced hepatic steatosis in albino rats

Study Design: Prospective experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, from July 2011 to November 2011.

Materials and Methods: Four groups of female albino rats, each containing 8 animals, were treated for 21 days as follows:

Group A served control, Group B treated with tamoxifen, Group C treated with tamoxifen plus taurine, Group D treated with taurine alone.

The animals were weighed at the start and end of treatment and then sacrificed under ether anaesthesia. The livers were fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin. H&E stained 4 μ thick sections were examined microscopically.

Results: There was significant decrease in the body weights of groups B and C as compared groups A and D. Significant increase in the body weights of group C rats in comparison with group B was noted. Histologically the livers of group B animals showed generalized microvesicular and macrovesicular steatosis, with no evidence of hepatocyte necrosis. In group C the fatty change was much less pronounced as compared to group B.

Conclusion: The study data suggest that taurine supplementation can reverse / attenuate the hepatic steatosis caused by tamoxifen treatment for 21 days, in albino rats.