The effects of alpha lipoic acid on liver cells damages and apoptosis induced by polyunsaturated fatty acids

We studied the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on the liver cell damages and apoptosis by n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) rich diet in young rats. 24 Wistar rats were divided into four groups. During the study, 12 of them (control) were fed with standard chow and other 12 (n-6) were fed with the food containing high-fat n-6 for 8 weeks. At the end of the fourth week, control and n-6 groups were randomly divided into two groups and then, 4 weeks, 35 mg/kg ALA are injected. Groups; control, control + ALA, n-6, n-6 + ALA. The liver tissue glutathione (GSH) activity was determined. Immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 and TUNEL method for apoptosis were performed. The GSH levels have significantly decreased (p < 0,001), and vacuolization in the hepatocytes, infiltration and the collagen accumulation around the central vein, hepatic stellate cells in the sinusoids have increased in n-6 group compared with the other groups. TUNEL (p < 0,001) and caspase-3 (p < 0,001) positive cells increased in n-6 group whereas all degenerative observations decreased in n-6 + ALA group. Our results demonstrate that the feeding with n-6 PUFA causes fatty liver, fibrosis development, inflammations and apoptosis in the liver of young rats. ALA has a beneficial effects on these degenerative effects.