The Effect of Dietary Safflower Seed Supplementation on the $CCl_4$-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rats: Histopathological Observation

홍화씨 식이가 사 염화탄소에 의한 랫트 간손상에 미치는 영향: 병리조직학적 관찰

To investigate the effects of safflower seed supplementation diet on the hepatic injury of rats administered with carbon tetrachloride (CCI$_4$), histopathological changes were assessed following acute and chronic administration in rats. In acute cases, all rats in group fed with 10% safflower seed supplementation diet survived despite the administration of lethal doses of $CCl_4$. However, most rats in group fed with control diet died. The hepatic injuries of survived rats, in the histopathological findings, were mild compared to those of dead rats. In the chronic cases, livers of group 2 fed with control diet were more progressive in fatty changes and centrilobular necrosis than those of group 3 fed with 20%safflower seed diet. However, after six weeks, livers of group 2 and 3 showed severe necrosis and mild fibrosis at the same time. Group 5 fed with 10% safflower seed supplementation diet and water containing 0.05% phenobarbital sodium showed mild fatty changes and necrosis compared with group 4 fed with control diet and water containing 0.05% phenobarbital sodium at sixth week. At 8 to 10 wee71s after the administration of $CCl_4$, severe fibrosis. fatty changes and marked necrosis were observed in group 4, but hepatic injuries were less severe in group 5. The present results suggested that safflower seed has some protective effect in hepatic lesions and consequently delay the progression of hepatic fibrosis.