The effect of krill oil on Wnt/?-catenin signaling pathway in acetaminophen- induced acute liver injury in mice

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of krill oil (KO) on liver damage caused by acetaminophen (APAP). Methods: In the present study, the control and APAP groups were given distilled water by gavage for 14 days. In addition, the KO and APAP+KO groups were given 500 mg/kg krill oil by gavage for 14 days. At the end of 14 days, 0.9 % sodium chloride solution (saline solution) administration was applied intraperitoneally to the control and KO groups. Meanwhile, 220 mg/kg acetaminophen was administered to the APAP and APAP+KO groups. While some biochemical parameters in plasma were examined, some oxidative stress parameters in plasma and liver tissue were evaluated. Apoptotic and inflammatory responses of some primer se- quences determined by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) in liver tissue. After histopathological examination of liver tissue, immunohistochemical analysis was performed with Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1), beta-catenin (?-Catenin), and 8-hydroxy-2?-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Results: The Wif-1 positivity in hepatocytes increased significantly in the APAP group (5.29 ± 0.71) compared to the control (1.14 ± 0.51), and KO (2.14 ± 0.55) groups (p<0.001). The 8-OHdG positivity in hepatocytes increased significantly in the APAP group (19.57 ± 0.58) compared to the control (0.43 ± 0.20), KO (3.57 ± 0.48), and APAP+KO (4.00 ± 2.53) groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: As a result, krill oil could be used as a nutri- tional supplement to protect the liver against acetaminophen- induced liver injury.