PREVENTION OF HEPATOTOXICITY OF VALPROIC ACID WITH CONCOMITANT SUPPLEMENT OF CARNITINE: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Background: Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug which may cause carnitine deficiency and subsequently hepatotoxicity in the form of necrosis and steatosis. The objective of this study was to observe the protective role of carnitine against valproic acid induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats.
Material & Methods: This was an experimental study of concurrent parallel design in albino rats, carried out in Department of Pathology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Thirty adult and apparently healthy albino rats were selected. The animals were divided into five equal groups; Group A control, kept on the diet of animal house only, Group B treated with therapeutic doses of valproic acid + carnitine supplement, group C treated with toxic doses of valproic acid + carnitine supplement, Th group treated with therapeutic doses of valproic acid and Tx group treated with toxic doses of valproic acid. All the animals were fed on routine diet of animal house and sacrificed after 3 weeks of treatment. The liver of each animal was properly fixed, sectioned, processed, stained with H&E stain and seen under light microscope.
Results: No significant changes in the livers were seen in group A. Focal necrosis could be seen in the liver of one out of six animals (16.66%) of group B, foci of steatosis were seen in one (16.66%) and necrosis in 3(50%) animals of group C whereas in Th group steatosis was seen in 5(83.33%) and necrosis in one (16.66%) and in Tx group steatosis in 5(83.33%) and necrosis in 2(33.33%).
Conclusion: Valproic acid induced hepatotoxicity in the form of steatosis can be prevented by carnitine supplement in albino rats.