Protective role of ghrelin against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced coagulation disturbances in rats

Recent data indicate that ghrelin has protective effects in different organs and cell types including the pancreas, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ghrelin plays a protective role against CCl4-induced coagulation disturbances in rats. Fourty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups including group 1 (1 ml physiological saline s.c., for 5 days), group 2 (CCl4, i.p., single dose of 1.6 g/kg), group 3 (ghrelin, s.c., 10 nmol/kg/day, for 5 days) and group 4 (ghrelin, 10 nmol/kg/day, for 5 days plus CCl4, i.p., single dose of 1.6 g/kg on the 5th day). Fibrinogen level, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), platelet counts and alanine transaminase (ALT) activity were evaluated. The values of PT, aPTT and ALT activity were increased (p<0.05), while fibrinogen level was decreased (p<0.05) due to CCl4 treatment alone. Pre-treatment with ghrelin prior to the administration of CCl4 reduced (p<0.05) PT, aPTT and ALT values and increased (p<0.05) fibrinogen level when compared with CCl4-treated only group. The results of this study suggest that exogenously administered ghrelin may play a protective role against CCl4-induced coagulation disturbances in rats. Crown Copyright (c) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.