Potential hepato-protective effect of α-tocopherol or simvastatin in aged rats

Background: the effect of α-tocopherol or simvastatin treatment on antioxidant defense in liver of old rats was investigated. methods: endogenous thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (tbars) and total nitrite/nitrate (no2/no3) levels as well as non-enzymatic glutathione (gsh) and enzymatic antioxidants [glutathione-s-transferase (gst),superoxide dismutase (sod),glutathione peroxidase (gpx) and catalase (cat) activities] were determined in the livers of young (3 months),aged (22 months),α-tocopherol- or simvastatin-treated aged rats. serum lipid profile and liver function parameters were also assessed in these 4 groups. results: both α-tocopherol and simvastatin almost equally restored the age-induced changes in liver tbars and cat activity,serum aspartate aminotransferase (got),alanine aminotransferase (gpt) and alkaline phosphatase (alp). α-tocopherol,but not simvastatin,tended to restore gst and gpx activities in livers of aged rats. simvastatin,on the other hand,counteracted age-induced increases in serum cholesterol,tg,ldl,total hepatic no 2/no3 level,and preserved a normal liver function during aging. conclusion: thus,either drug may be beneficial,in spite of a mechanistic difference in the antioxidant effect of both of them,in alleviating age-induced liver injury. copyright © 2012 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.