Pathological and Biochemical Studies on Hepatorenal Syndrome Induced by Bile Duct Ligation in Albino Rats

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a form of secondary renal failure that occurs in late stage of chronic liver diseases. Its importance arises from the fact that it has the lowest survival rate. is a form of secondary renal failure that occurs in late stage of chronic liver diseases. Its importance arises from the fact that it has the lowest survival rate. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of Lactoferrin (LF) against the complications of hepatic fibrosis associated with bile duct ligation (BDL) in the HRS rat model. The experiment was performed on 36 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighting (250 - 300 gm) and their age ranged from (5-6) weeks. Rats were randomly distributed into four groups, (G1; Control normal group, n=6): rats received a daily oral dose of distilled water at (100 ml / kg/ b.wt.) for 4 successive weeks, (G2; LF group, n=6): rats received a daily oral dose of Lactoferrin at (300 mg / kg / b. wt.) by oral gavage for 4 successive weeks, (G3; BDL group, n=12): the common bile duct was double ligated, and (G4; BDL+ LF group, n=12 ): the common bile duct of the rats was double - ligated and then treated with LF by oral gavage from the 2nd day post -surgery and continued for 4 successive weeks . The current study recorded that LF treatment showed improvement in the clinical signs, biochemical analysis, histopathological examinations, and electron microscopy examination of the liver, kidneys, and of BDL rats compared- to the untreated BDLgroup.LF plays an important role in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis and associated complications including HRS through its antioxidant properties.