Magnesium protects against bile duct ligation-induced liver injury in male Wistar rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) on cholestasis-induced hepatic injury after bile duct ligation (BDL) in male Wistar rats. In this study, the effects of 28-day, oral administration of MgSO4 (at doses of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/kg bw) were evaluated in normal and BDL-induced cholestatic rats. The BDL group showed significant increases in serum levels of ALP, ALT, AST, GGT and significant decreases in hepatic SOD and catalase activities. BDL rats also had significant decreases in the serum levels of albumin, bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL. Administration of MgSO4 significantly attenuated these changes to nearly normal levels. Administrations of MgSO4 did not change these parameters in normal rats. Histopathological studies further confirmed the protective effects of MgSO4 on cholestasis-induced hepatic injury in the BDL rat model. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that MgSO4 treatment may be beneficial in cholestasis-induced hepatotoxicity.