Vitamin C ameliorates high dose Dexmedetomidine induced liver injury

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether vitamin C has protective effects on rat liver tissue treated with different dexmedetomidine doses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty five wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (Control (0.9 % NaCI intraperitoneally (ip), Dexmedetomidine 5 mu g.kg(-1) (ip), Dexmedetomidine 5 mu g.kg(-1) ip plus Vitamin C (100 mng.kg(-1)), Dexmedetomidine 10 mu g.kg(-1) ip and Dexmedetomidine 10 mu g.kg(-1) ip plus Vitamin C (100 mg.kg-1). Histopathological liver injury, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and tissue Malondialdehyde levels were investigated. RESULTS: Hepatocyte degeneration was significantly higher in D10 group than those in other study groups (p < 0.0001, p = 0.002, p < 0.0001, p = 0.005, respectively). Similarly, liver tissue sinusoidal dilatation and hepatocyte necrosis were significantly higher in D10 group than those in other groups (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.002, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, p = 0.046, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Tissue MDA levels in D10 group were significantly higher than those in control, D5+Vit C and D10+Vit C groups (p = 0.028, p = 0.004, p = 0.031, respectively). SOD enzyme activity in D10 group was significantly lower than in control, D5+Vit C and D10+Vit C groups (p < 0.0001, p = 0.023 and p = 0.031, respectively). CONCLUSION: High dose dexmedetomidine can induce hepatic injury and oxidative stress in rats while pretreatment with vitamin C may be effective in protecting liver tissue against this newly recognized undesirable dexmedetomidine effect (Tab. 2, Fig. 5, Ref. 30). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.