Basic Research
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2008; 14(31): 4897-4902
Published online Aug 21, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.4897
Ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes after taurine treatment in CCl4 induced liver injury
Ilker Tasci, Nuket Mas, Mehmet Refik Mas, Murvet Tuncer, Bilgin Comert
Ilker Tasci, Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara 06018, Turkey
Nuket Mas, Department of Anatomy, Kocatepe University Medical Faculty, Afyon 03060, Turkey
Mehmet Refik Mas, Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara 06018, Turkey
Murvet Tuncer, Department of Anatomy, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara 06018, Turkey
Bilgin Comert, Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine, Ankara 06018, Turkey
Author contributions: Tasci I and Mas MR designed research; Tasci I, Mas N and Tuncer M performed research; Mas MR, and Comert B analyzed data; and Tasci I wrote the paper.
Supported by Grants from the Gulhane Medical Research Council, No. AR-99/01
Correspondence to: Mehmet Refik Mas, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine, Etlik, Ankara 06018, Turkey. itasci@gata.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-312-3044016 Fax: +90-312-3044000
Received: March 27, 2008
Revised: July 10, 2008
Accepted: July 17, 2008
Published online: August 21, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To search the organelle based changes in hepatocytes after taurine treatment in experimental liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 administration.

METHODS: Thirty rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 15) was injected with CCl4 plus taurine and Group 2 (n = 15) with CCl4 plus saline for 12 wk. At the end of 12th wk, mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclei of hepatocytes were evaluated using a scoring system. The results were compared with histopathological findings, as well.

RESULTS: Taurine treatment reduced fibrosis scores significantly as compared to placebo. Organelle injury scores decreased significantly with taurine treatment. Ultrastructural and histopathological scores in both groups were in strong correlation (r = 0.931 for CCl4 plus taurine and r = 0.899 for CCl4 plus saline group).

CONCLUSION: Organelle based transmission electron microscopy findings can reflect successfully histological results as well as tissue healing in hepatocytes from hepatotoxin-induced liver fibrosis.

Keywords: Taurine, Liver fibrosis, Hepatocyte, Ultrastructure