Blood was withdrawn for determination of TNFα after 1 and 2 weeks of treatments. Animals were sacrificed after 2 weeks and a 10 % W/V liver homogenate was assayed for both parameters. Data represent the mean ± SEM of each group; n = 8. Symbols indicate significance against VPA-treated group (asterisks) and normal control group (dollar symbols), DHA docosahexaenoic

acid, TNFα tumor necrosis factor alpha, VPA valproate Figure 4 represents necropsies of the liver to assess the pathological changes in the studied Androgen Receptor signaling pathway Antagonists animals. The negative control group showed average size and color of the liver with no detected histopathologic abnormalities (photos 1, 2). Conversely, the VPA-treated group showed grossly enlarged pale livers with significantly increased weights over control values. Besides, multiple foci of focal lytic necrosis were detected in which replacement by both inflammatory cells and cellular degeneration had occurred (photo 3). Moreover, combined macrovesicular and AG-881 microvesicular steatosis were evident in the periportal zone of four animals (out of six) of this group (photo 4). Concurrent treatment with DHA significantly alleviated the hepatic cellular

and molecular anomalies entailed by VPA treatment. This was manifested as reduced serum liver enzymes (better PRIMA-1MET chemical structure after 1 than 2 weeks), lipid peroxide generation, and increased levels of hepatic GSH and serum albumin, consonant with promoted liver defensive mechanisms and enhanced protein synthesis. Furthermore, when combined with VPA, DHA showed only minimal small focal necrosis/apoptosis (single cell death) with no evidence of degeneration or steatosis (photo 5); consistent with amelioration of pathologic anomalies by DHA. Fig. 4 Necropsies of the liver of studied animals from each group selleck products to assess the pathologic changes. Photos 1, 2 are for the negative control group, showing average size/color of the liver with no detected histopathologic abnormalities. Photo 3: VPA control group showing grossly enlarged pale livers with multiple foci of focal lytic necrosis with replacement by inflammatory cells and hepatocyte degeneration. Also, combined macrovesicular

and microvesicular steatosis occurring in the periportal zone were evident in four animals in this group (photo 4). DHA when combined with VPA showed only minimal small focal necrosis with no evidence of degeneration (photo 5). DHA docosahexaenoic acid, VPA valproate Because DHA recently demonstrated some neuroinhibitory effects on its own [18], it was of current interest to also seek possible synergy with anticonvulsant effects of VPA. Figure 5 shows that DHA elicited a dose-responsive increase in latency (onset) of mouse tonic convulsions, with significance from control value elicited at (250 mg/kg, p < 0.05), a response that was also comparable to that evoked by VPA at its ED50 dose (13.8 vs 14.9 min). Combining the two FAs at such lower doses triggered a notable synergy in the latency of convulsion (32.8 min, p < 0.05).