Protective role of ghrelin against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced coagulation disturbances in rats

Recent data indicate that ghrelin has protective effects in different organs and cell types including the pancreas, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ghrelin plays a protective role against CCl₄-induced coagulation disturbances in rats. Fourty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups including group 1 (1 ml physiological saline s.c., for 5 days), group 2 (CCl₄, i.p., single dose of 1.6 g/kg), group 3 (ghrelin, s.c., 10 nmol/kg/day, for 5 days) and group 4 (ghrelin, 10 nmol/kg/day, for 5 days plus CCl₄, i.p., single dose of 1.6 g/kg on the 5th day). Fibrinogen level, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), platelet counts and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity were evaluated. The values of PT, aPTT and ALT activity were increased (p < 0.05), while fibrinogen level was decreased (p < 0.05) due to CCl₄ treatment alone. Pre-treatment with ghrelin prior to the administration of CCl₄ reduced (p < 0.05) PT, aPTT and ALT values and increased (p < 0.05) fibrinogen level when compared with CCl₄-treated only group. The results of this study suggest that exogenously administered ghrelin may play a protective role against CCl₄-induced coagulation disturbances in rats.