Preventative Effect of Vitamin E on Mast Cells in Carbon Tetrachlorideinduced Acute Liver Damage

Preventing liver damage that might lead to cirrhosis is very important in the early stages of injury to that organ. The role of mast cells (MCs) in liver injuries has been long debated, and vitamin E is a well-known antioxidant used to treat those injuries. This study aimed to determine the protective role of vitamin E on MCs in injury to the liver that is triggered by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). There is a correlation between MC deposits and improvement in fibrosis tissues.

To further examine this, 68 male Albino Wistar rats were divided randomly into five groups: the control group, the vitamin E group, the CCl4 group, the CCl4 + vitamin E group, and the vitamin E + CCl4 group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis, MC counts, histopathological investigation, and statistical analyses were used to evaluate the findings.

The administration of CCl4 resulted in an increase in the accumulation of MCs, degenerative parenchyma cells, MDA level, steatosis and inflammation. Additionally, proliferation of the bile ducts in the portal area and porto-portal and porto-central fibrosis were observed in the CCl4 group. In contrast, in the vitamin E group and in the groups administered a combination of vitamin E and CCl4, vitamin E prevented these increases.

It was concluded that the significant decrease in the MC counts, in the level of MDA and the number of degenerative cells, as well as a decrease in the steatosis and inflammation scores showed that vitamin E could prevent liver injuries by protecting the organ's histological architecture. Finally, the results indicate that vitamin E has positive effects on liver injuries.