Effects of Tempol in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury

Abstract

Objective: Sepsis leads to conditions such as inflammatory and anti-inflammatory process, circulatory abnormalities, cellularand humoral reactions. Endotoxin-induced oxidative stress causes injury in the liver. The aim of this study was to evaluate theeffects of a radical scavenger Tempol in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury in rats.Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Control, LPS (15 mg/kg), LPS + Tempol group (100mg/kg Tempol, three hours after LPS administration) and Tempol (100 mg/kg). Blood glucose and body temperature weremeasured during the experiment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in plasma or liver tissue. Furthermore, histopathological changes andmyeloperoxidase-stained leukocytes infiltration were assessed in liver tissue.Results: LPS caused tissue damage and leukocytes infiltration, increased AST, ALT and CRP levels, and decreased bodytemperature, blood glucose and SOD levels. Tempol reduced AST and ALT levels and increased SOD levels. Tempol did notprevent tissue damage, leukocytes infiltration and increment of CRP levels. There were no changes in body temperature andblood glucose levels.Conclusion: The present study suggests that tempol may have antioxidant properties in LPS-induced liver injury. Theseresults may contribute to a better understanding of the role of tempol and basic mechanisms of underlying oxidative stressrelatedliver injury for further investigations.