Abstract
Obstructive jaundice is a serious condition that increases the risk of death from multiple organ failure and sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic (T) and prophylactic (P) effects of boric acid (BA) in an experimental mechanical biliary obstructive (BO) cholestasis rat model. For this purpose, thirty-two adult male Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups of eight animals in each group as control, BO, BO + BAP, and BO + BAT. BA was administered intraperitoneally at 100 mg/kg/day before and after bile duct ligation. In order to examine the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of BA as well as the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by BO, serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), total oxidant and antioxidant status (TOS, TAS), and cytochrome C levels were measured. Serum total bilirubin (T. Bil), direct bilirubin (D. Bil) levels and amylase, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were measured to investigate liver functions. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of the TNF-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), caspase-3, and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) genes in liver tissue were examined to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects of BA as well as the inflammation and apoptosis caused by BO. Hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining were performed for histopathological examinations. BO-induced liver damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis were reduced by BA administration. The anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of prophylactic BA application were found to be more effective than therapeutic BA application.