Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate malondialdehyde (MDA) expressions using the immunohisto-chemical method in order to reveal the role of lipid peroxidation in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in male Wistar albino rats. Avidin-biotin-peroxidase method was used for immunohistochemical evaluation. Histopathological examinations revealed that DEN caused a mixed pattern (trabecular and acinar formations) of HCC in the majority of rats. The MDA positive stainings were significantly increased in rats in the HCC group compared to the healthy rats in the control group. In conclusion, this study data contain three important findings. The first one is that DEN triggers the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), excessively produced ROS cause oxidative stress, and as a result, oxidative stress strongly causes lipid peroxidation. Secondly, it is clear that there is an important relationship between oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation and HCC progression. At the same time, MDA is an useful biomarker in determining the prognosis of patients with HCC. The third and final finding is that intra-peritoneal DEN injection once a week for 20 weeks, but not in combination with other promoting chemical agents, appears to be very effective in inducing experimental HCC.