Protective effect of ghrelin on acetaminophen-induced liver injury in rat

Ghrelin is a peptide that has protective effects on many tissues of the body. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Acetaminophen, a commonly used analgesic-antipyretic drug, has hepatotoxic side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective role of ghrelin in liver toxicity due to acetaminophen overdose. Thirty male rats were used in this study and divided into five groups. They were control, propylene-glycol (as a solvent of acetaminophen), acetaminophen, acetaminophen and NAC, acetaminophen and ghrelin groups. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and hepatic enzymes, AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase), were assessed and histologic study of liver were performed as indicators of liver damage following acetaminophen toxicity. Results showed that Ghrelin decreased ALT and AST to the normal level, and also reduced TNF-α. Although NAC (the standard antidote of acetaminophen toxicity) also reduced ALT, AST and TNF-α levels, our results show that ghrelin is more potent than NAC in protecting the liver from acetaminophen-induced liver injury. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

La ecologia En el arte de america prehispanica

Las relaciones de los seres humanos con su me­dio ambiente físico, encuentran su definición en la cultura -entendida como comportamiento - y llegan a concretarse en los objetos, entendidos no como simples materiales trabajados, sino des­de el punto de vista de su función, ya sea ésta de directa utilización técnica o de finalidad menoa tangible, a través de un simbolismo mágico-re­ligioso