Abstract: Objective To evaluate the protective effects of nitisinone on liver injury caused by tyrosinemia
type Ⅰ. Methods Total of 10 wild type mice were selected as healthy controls (group A) and 40 Fah -/- mice
were divided into four groups (group B~E), 10 mice in each group. Mice in group B were given nitisinone
0.2 mg/(kg·d) for 5 weeks, mice in group C were given nitisinone 0.2 mg/(kg·d) for the first 4 weeks and
equivalent normal saline for the last one week, mice in group C were given nitisinone 0.2 mg/(kg·d) for one
week and equivalent normal saline for the last 4 weeks, mice in group A and E were given equivalent normal
saline for 5 weeks. The health status, body weight, serology indexes (ALT, AST and ALP) and pathological
changes of liver tissue in mice were analyzed. Results The serology indicators and liver histologic changes
of mice in group B had no significant differences compared with group A. The serology indicators of mice in
group C and D increased gradually when the nitisinone were stopped given. The serology indicators of mice
in group E increased and body weight decreased, the pathology showed that the liver were damaged severely.
The liver inflammation scores of groups A~E were 1.00 ± 0.00, 1.19 ± 0.11, 2.09 ± 0.23, 3.41 ± 0.31 and
3.96 ± 0.23, respectively. The scores of group C, D and E were significantly higher than that of group A,
the differences were statistically significant (t = 4.241, 5.751, 6.892, P = 0.032, 0.021, 0.006). There was no
significant difference of liver inflammation score between group A and B (t = 0.512,P = 0.223). The liver
necrosis scores of groups A~E were 1.00 ± 0.00, 1.07 ± 0.13, 2.45 ± 0.26, 3.37 ± 0.33 and 3.76 ± 0.26,
respectively. The scores of group C, D and E were significantly higher than that of group A, the differences
were statistically significant (t = 4.451, 5.669, 6.983, P = 0.030, 0.023, 0.005).There was no significant
difference of liver necrosis score between group A and B (t = 0.471,P = 0.269). Conclusion Nitisinone had
a good protective effect on liver injury caused by tyrosinemia type Ⅰ.
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