Combined effects of vitamins C and E on acute ethanol toxicity of the liver and jejunum of albino rats: histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical study

Introduction :Ethanol is a systemic toxin that induces injury in all tissues, depending on the dose and the duration of exposure. Aim of the work :To determine the possible protective effect of vitamins C and E on ethanol-induced histopathological changes in rat liver and jejunum, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzyme activities in these tissues and some serum parameters. Materials and methods: Sixty adult male albino rats were subjected to an experiment for 4 days as follows. The control group was divided into the following: group I was administered distilled water and corn oil orally, group II received vitamins C and E (250 mg/kg/day, orally), group III received 5 ml/kg 10% ethanol solution (orally), and group IV received vitamins C and E (250 mg/kg/day, orally) 1 h before the administration of a 10% ethanol solution. Blood samples were collected for biochemical study. Liver and jejunum tissues were excised for histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies. Results: Compared with the control group, the ethanol-treated group showed a number of histopathological changes in the liver, ranging from cytoplasmic vacuolation, nuclear dissolution in hepatocytes, variable degrees of glycogen depletion, lymphocytic infiltration. The jejunum showed short broad, fused villi with denudation of surface epithelium at the tip of villi and lymphocytic infiltration in lamina propria in between intestinal crypts extending to the submucosa. The cytoplasm and nuclei of most of the hepatocytes and basal jejunal crypt cells were immunoreactive for Bcl-2. Serum catalase level, liver and intestinal catalase, and superoxide dismutase were decreased; however, serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, serum lipid, liver, and intestinal malondialdehyde levels were increased. Vitamins C and E reversed these histopathological and biochemical effects. Conclusion: Vitamins C and E could be used as protective agents against ethanol-damaging effects on the liver and jejunum.