The ultrastructural research of liver in experimental obstructive jaundice and effect of honey

Abstract

Background: To examine the effects of honey on oxidative stress and apoptosis in experimental obstructivejaundice model.Method: Thirty rats were divided into 3 groups: group I, sham-operated; group II, ligation and divisionof the common bile duct (BDL); group III, BDL followed by oral supplementation of honey 10 g/kg/d.Liver samples were examined under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Hepatocyteapoptosis was quantitated using the terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphatenick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Plasma and blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutationactivities were measured for determining the oxidative stress.Results: The liver levels of MDA and GSH were significantly different between the honey and BDL groups(P .006 and .001, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the plasma MDA andGSH levels of these groups (P .05). In group III, significant reductions in the size of enlarged hepatocytesand the edema were demonstrated. The dilatation of the bile canaliculi dramatically turned to original dimention.By TUNEL assay, it was shown that administration of honey decreased the number of apoptotic cells.Conclusions: In the present study, we found that honey diminished the negative effects of BDL on thehepatic ultrastructure. We conclude that this effect might be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatoryactivities.