Betaine attenuates fatty changes via antioxidant responses against oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver in rats.

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant properties of betaine against oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver disease.

Background: During the past decades, fatty liver has been considered a public health concern, with prevalence between 10-24% in the world. Betaine has been shown to have some antioxidant properties in our previous studies.

Methods: For this purpose, 32 male Wistar rats, were divided into four groups: control, betaine (Bet., betaine 10 mg/kg daily for 15 days, orally), fatty liver (Fat., induction of fatty liver with oxytetracycline 120 mg/kg during three consecutive days, ip), and fatty liver + betaine group (Fat. + Bet.). On the 19th day, after complete anesthesia, blood samples were taken from the heart, and the liver was sampled for biochemical and histopathology evaluations.

Results: Betaine significantly increased glutathione peroxidase activity (Gpx) in the Bet. and Fat. + Bet. Groups compared to the Fat group (P <0.05). In this regard, glutathione (GSH) content and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) increased significantly in the betaine-treated rats and Fat. + Bet. group compared to the Fat. Group (P <0.05). Regarding lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde concentration significantly decreased in Bet. and Fat. + Bet. Groups, when compared to fat. Group (P <0.05). Betaine was able to reduce tissue necrosis and decrease the number of Kupffer cells, restoring the standard color of the cytoplasm of hepatocytes.

Conclusion: The antioxidant properties of betaine are able to prevent fatty liver and oxidative stress in the oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver of rats. The antioxidant properties of betaine appear to prevent fatty liver and oxidative stress in rats with oxytetracycline-induced fatty liver.