Modulatory effects of cod liver oil on the antioxidant status and oxidative stress induced by acute exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) in experimental animal models.

BACKGROUND

This work was designed to investigate the modulatory effects of cod liver oil on the acute exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) in experimental animal models.

METHODS

Markers of oxidative stress, enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were assessed in the liver and kidney.

RESULTS

The results showed significant (p<0.05) increase in the total protein of the kidney of rats pretreated with cod liver oil compared to the control and CCL4-treated groups. Acute exposure to CCL4 also significantly (p<0.05) increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the liver of rats treated with cod liver oil compared to the CCL4-treated rats. The reduced glutathione (GSH) content in the liver of the rats administered with CCL4 decreased significantly compared to that in all other treatment groups, whereas rats pretreated and co-administered with cod liver oil and CCl4 showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in the liver GSH content. The catalase (CAT) activity in the liver of rats exposed to CCL4 decreased (p<0.05) significantly, whereas the activity increased (p<0.05) significantly in the rats that were treated with cod liver oil compared to the CCl4 only-treated group. The percentage inhibition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased (p<0.05) significantly in the liver of rats administered cod liver oil compared to the CCL4-treated rats and the control.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, cod liver oil attenuates CCL4-induced toxicity and oxidative stress in the liver but not in the kidney of rats acutely exposed to CCL4.