Effect of quercetin on homocysteine level and coronary vascular damage in rats with liver fibrosis

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the levels of homocysteine and structure of coronary arteries in experimental liver fibrosis in rats and to investigate the effects of quercetin on these changes. For this purpose, 40 Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups as; Group 1: (Control group, n=10, olive oil), Group 2: [Carbon tetra clorur (CCl4) group, n=10, 0.25 mg/kg CCl4], Group3: [Quercetine (Q) group, n=10, 150 mg/kg quercetine], Group 4: [Carbon tetra clorur (CCl4)+Quercetine (Q) group, n=10]. Treatments were by gavage to rats daily for 10 weeks. The levels of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and homocysteine were determined and pathological changes in the liver and coronary arteries were examined. The levels of plasma homocysteine (P<0.01) and MDA (P<0.05) significantly increased in group 2, while they were significantly decreased in groups 3 and 4 compared to control group. Fibrinoid and vacuolar degeneration, perivascular connective tissue growth and detachment of endothelial cells were determined in the endothelium of coronary artery of group 2 rats compared to the control group. It was observed that degenerative changes and increase in perivascular connective tissue were milder in group 4 versus group 2. In conclusion, CCl4 induced increase in MDA level caused liver injury, leading to increse in plasma homocysteine level and pathological changes in coronary arteries. On the other hand, quercetine administration to CCl4 treated rats 3 decreased the levels of plasma homocysteine and MDA and the degree of the pathological lesions in the coronary arteries. Key Words: Atherosclerosis, Homocysteine, Quercetine, Rat.