Hepatoprotective effects of prostacyclins on CCl4-induced liver injury in rats

Abstract Certain biochemical parameters of acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride were investigated in rats treated with prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) and two of its derivatives. Serum glutamate oxalacetate transaminase elevation and both triglyceride accumulation and reduction of glycogen content in liver were significantly suppressed by PGI 2 , 7-oxo-PGI 2 , and 20-methyl-13,14-didehydro-2,4- m -interphenylene-PGI 2 48 hr after the injury. Prostacyclins partially restored some of the parameters of injury even in doses of 10 μg/kg ip. When the compounds were given 24 hr after CCl 4 intoxication, much more pronounced protection was observed than in the case of treatments 1 hr before administration of the hepatotoxin. Thus, all tested prostacyclins exerted significant protective effects on acute liver damage which is obtained mainly in the second phase of the injury.