Acupuncture inhibits liver injury induced by morphine plus acetaminophen through antioxidant system

IntroductionMorphine (MP) and acetaminophen (APAP), widely used-pain relievers and antipyretics, are known to induce hepatotoxicity. Acupuncture, a traditional therapy in Asia, is used for various reasons including detoxification. This study aimed to examine whether acupuncture exerts protective effects against MP + APAP-induced hepatic damage.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats received chronic MP, withdrawal, and APAP. Thereafter, blood and liver were taken. Acupuncture was performed once daily. Asparte aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured, and percentages of abnormally decreased-hepatocyte regions, mean liver cell counts, and mean inflammatory cell numbers infiltrated on hepatic parenchyma were examined. In addition, antioxidant effects were evaluated based on liver lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities with the number of immunopositive hepatocytes against nitrotyrosine (NT) as a marker of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) related-oxidative stresses and 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE) as a marker of lipid peroxidation.ResultsSignificant elevations of AST and ALT were noted of MP or APAP. They also induced an increase in MDA contents as well as decreases in GSH levels and activities of SOD and CAT activity. A centrolobular decrease in hepatocytes along with degenerative changes of hepatocytes were also observed, and increases of NT and 4HNE immunoreactive hepatocytes were shown. These hepatocellular damages were more severe with the combination of MP + APAP. However, these MP + APAP-induced hepatic damages were significantly inhibited by acupuncture.ConclusionThis study suggests that acupuncture may have a protective effect against the MP + APAP-induced hepatic damage through the amelioration of antioxidant defense systems.