Long-Term Intake of Recombinant Human Lactoferrin Corrects Changes in Serum Biochemical Parameters and Liver Injuries Induced by Chronic Alcohol Intoxication in Rats

Alcohol is well known to increase the risk of multiple diseases directly unrelated therewith and affects nearly all vital organs and systems of the organism. The aim of this work was to assess some serum biochemical parameters and morphological changes in the liver after a long-term intake of recombinant human lactoferrin combined with chronic alcohol intoxication in rats. Alcohol intoxication was modeled by forced alcoholization when rats had to consume 15% ethanol solution as the only source of liquids daily for 40 days. It was found that long-term alcohol intoxication causes significant changes in lipid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism, specifically, in serum levels of triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, glucose and total protein. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities were increased. Alcohol-induced liver injuries included diffuse fatty degeneration, hepatic cell necrosis, and cirrhosis. The administration of recombinant human lactoferrin against alcohol intoxication corrects certain serum biochemical parameters (total protein level, AST and GGT activities). Lactoferrin promotes the restoration of the structural and functional organization of the liver, reduces reactive hepatic edema, shrinks focal areas of hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory infiltration of perivascular spaces in the portal tracts and central veins. Thus, the obtained data demonstrate the protective effect of lactoferrin on some informative indicators of the organism in chronic alcohol intoxication.