The effect of vitamin A and glutamine on methotrexate induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Background: Methotrexate is one of the most effective and commonly used medicines to treat various forms of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions. It is known as a disease-modifying ant rheumatic drug (DMARD) because it not only decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis but also can reduce damage to joints and the risks of long-term disability.

Methodology: Twenty eight male rats, were taken of the research center in the College of Medicine at the University of Kufa. These animals were equally divided into four groups, Each of 7 rats, the first group received distilled water added equivalent fluid (corn oil, NaOH and citric acid) and served as control. The second group received methotrexate at dose of 2.5 mg/BW orally twice daily by gavage, the third group received methotrexate and vitamin A at doses of 2.5 mg /BW + 50000 IU respectively orally twice daily by gavage and the forth group received methotrexate and glutamine at dose 2.5 mg/BW + 500 mg /BW twice daily respectively. All groups dosing for period 30 days. At the end of the experiment, all rats were anesthetized using ether and drawn blood 4ml of heart using a 23-gauge needle syringe then killed and take piece of liver and placed in formalin 10 % for histopath examination. The blood placed in centrifuge 3000/minute for 10 minutes to obtain serum for analyzing liver function test (alkaline phosphatase, aspartate amino transferees (AST) and alanine amino transfers (ALT) measurements and bilirubin).

Result: In animal treatment with methotrexate only and those treated with MTX and Vitamin A and glutamine there was no significant difference in serum ALT, serum AST and Bilirubin when compared with control group but ALP elevated in MTX with vitamin A treated rats and no significant difference in MTX and MTX+ glutamine treated groups but showed amyloid changes liver and congestion in methotrexate treatment rat compared with control and no damage in liver of MTX with vitamin A and glutamine treated groups.

Conclusion: liver enzymes could be normal despite histopath change in methotrexate treated animals