The Possible Protective Effect of Selenium on Liver Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Extrahepatic Cholestasis
Abstract Background Oxidative stress and inflammation are primarily implicated in the development and progression of liver injury during cholestasis. Selenium, a known essential antioxidant trace element, was found to provide a remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on various diseases. Aim This study was planned to evaluate the possible protective effect of selenium supplementation in a rat model of chronic cholestasis. Design Experimental study. Methods This study was carried out on adult male rats allocated randomly into sham, bile duct ligated (BDL), and BDL-selenium treated (BDL-Se) groups. Sodium selenite was given by gavage daily, in a dose of 100 µg/kg for 6 weeks, starting 2 weeks before the BDL. Results BDL group presented a significant increase in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and liver levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1), associated with a significant decrease in serum levels of total proteins (TP) compared to sham group . Selenium supplementation significantly lowered serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and liver levels of MDA, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 along with a significant increase in serum TP in BDL-Se group versus BDL rats. Histological analysis of liver showed a significant attenuation of the inflammatory score and a significant decrease in the percentage area of collagen deposition in BDL-Se group versus BDL rats. Conclusion Selenium supplementation reduces liver injury and improves liver functions in experimental cholestasis probably by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which further alleviate the liver fibrosis. Abbreviations BDL: bile duct ligated group, BDL-Se: bile duct ligated-selenium group, MDA: malondialdehyde, TNF-α: tumour necrosis factor-alpha, TGF-β1: transforming growth factor- beta1, ROS: reactive oxygen species, mRNA: messenger RNA, IL-6: interleukin-6, BW: body weight, AST: aspartate aminotransferase, ALT: alanine aminotransferase, ALP: alkaline phosphatase, TP: total proteins, CCl4: carbon tetrachloride, GPx: glutathione peroxidase enzyme, SOD: superoxide dismutase, IL-1: interleukin-1.