Ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes after taurine treatment in CCl4 induced liver injury

AIM： To search the organelle based changes in hepatocytes after taurine treatment in experimental liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 administration. METHODS： Thirty rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 （n = 15） was injected with CCl4 plus taurine and Group 2 （n = 15） with CCl4 plus saline for 12 wk. At the end of 12th wk, mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclei of hepatocytes were evaluated using a scoring system. The results were compared with histopathological findings, as well. RESULTS： Taurine treatment reduced fibrosis scores significantly as compared to placebo. Organelle injury scores decreased significantly with taurine treatment. Ultrastructural and histopathological scores in both groups were in strong correlation （r = 0.931 for CCl4 plus taurine and r = 0.899 for CCl4 plus saline group）. CONCLUSION： Organelle based transmission electron microscopy findings can reflect successfully histological results as well as tissue healing in hepatocytes from hepatotoxin-induced liver fibrosis.