Preventive Treatment with Vitamin E Alleviates the Poisoning Effects of Carbon Tetrachloride in Cattle

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Abstract
Summary: Fifteen yearling steers were used to study the preventive effect of vitamin E on the protection against free radicals produced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The animals were randomly divided in three equal groups and treated as follows: group A – previously injected (i.m.) with 15 IU/kg BW on the 15th and second day before the trial and drenched with 0.05 ml/kg BW CCl4; group B – only drenched with the same dose of CCl4; group C – drenched with a placebo. Food intake was recorded and blood samples collected daily for 8 days after the CCl4 drenching to compare the activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma‐glutamyltransferase (γ‐GT) and the levels of erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) and serum malonyldialdehyde (MDA). Food intake was reduced in group B for the first 3 days (P < 0.05); higher activities of AST and γ‐GT were observed in the poisoned groups, nevertheless the overall values were lower in the group A than B (P < 0.02); only the group A reached the basal values of AST at the seventh day; higher levels of GSH and MDA were recorded in the poisoned cattle indicating the generation of free radicals. It was concluded that the preventive use of Vitamin E lessened the damage in hepatic tissue caused by the free radicals and prevented the anorexia caused by CCl4.

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