ABSTRACT

Background: Alcohol induces histomorphological changes in the liver and vitamin E has a protective role against these changes.

Objective: To observe changes in hepatocytes of rabbits exposed to intragastric administration of alcohol and the protective role of vitamin E against these changes.

Study Design: Analytical experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anatomy, Pathology and Pharmacology of Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan from 1^st January 2016 to 30^th June 2016.

Methodology: Eighteen male rabbits domestic type (Oryctolaguscuniculus) were included. Experimental duration for category E8 animals was 8 weeks while for category E4 animals it was 4 weeks. The groups were, control group A in which animals were given proper food and normal saline as drinking water, experimental group B in which animals were fed on proper diet and 30% ethanol solution (30 ml/kg/day) orally daily with normal saline and experimental group C in which animals were treated with proper diet, 30% ethanol solution (30 ml/kg/day), vitamin E (50 mg/kg/day) orally daily and normal saline as drinking water.

Results: The difference in the ALT, hepatocyte count and size and hepatocyte nuclear count and size of control and experimental groups and experimental group B-II and C-II from both category E4 and E8 showed a highly significant P values.

Conclusion: Alcohol causes histomorphological changes in the liver even in the short period of 4-8 weeks and these changes can be minimized by the antioxidant action of vitamin E.