The role of hepatic free cholesterol (FC) in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is raised up and the intervention with cholesterol synthesis will be a potential therapeutic target. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect of mevalonic acid pathway inhibition by Zoledronic acid (ZA) on the hepatic changes associated with high fat diet (HFD) in rats.Thirty two male Wistar rats were used. They were divided into 2 groups: (I) control naïve (II) NASH: induced by HFD for 12 weeks, this group is subdivided into (A) NASH untreated (B)NASH + ZA (50ug/kg/week) i.p. for 12 weeks (C) NASH + ZA (100μg/kg/week) i.p. for 12 weeks. Portal pressure (PP), liver enzymes AST and ALT, serum glucose, lipid profile, hepatic levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), FC and triglyceride (TG), histopathological changes and expression of both hepatic alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Caspase-3 were measured. ZA significantly prevented portal hypertension, worsening in liver function, and dyslipidemia. The hepatic levels of TNF-α, VEGF, FC and TG were significantly decreased in comparison to NASH untreated group. ZA hindered the histopathological changes induced by HFD. ZA inhibited the expression of hepatic α-SMA and Caspase-3 with significant difference favor the high dose intervention. ZA in a dose related manner prevents the hepatic pathological effects of chronic HFD ingestion in rats. This may be largely mediated by its ability to reduce TNF-α and hepatic FC.
Keywords: Free cholesterol; NASH; TNF-α; VEGF; Zoledronic acid.
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