Hepatoprotective Effects of Pentoxifylline against Acrolein- Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rat Liver

Abstract

Acrolein (ACR) is α, β unsaturated aldehyde that exists extensively in the environment and (thermally processed) foods. It can also be generated through endogenous metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective role of Pentoxifylline (PTX) as a non-selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor on toxicity of ACR. In this study, oxidative damages were measured by markers liver mitochondrial, such as, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and total glutathione (GSH) in rats. Effective doses of ACR (2mg/kg/day) and PTX (50mg/kg/day) and vitamin E (15mg/kg/day) were administered alone or in combination for 14 days by intraperitoneal injection. At the end of the experiment, the liver mitochondria of the animals were separated. PTX ameliorated LPO, SOD and GPx in liver mitochondria of ACR-induced changes. Co-administration of PTX with ACR improved LPO in liver mitochondria. In conclusion, intracellular cAMP-elevating agents like PTX, may be considered beneficial for the protection or recovery of ACR-induced toxic damage in liver mitochondria.