الفهرس 
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Abstract
The prophylactic administration of spirulina; in group V-A, showed significant decrease of the portal pressure, the spleen/body weight ratio, serum activities of ALT, AST and ALP, serum concentrations of bilirubin and YKL-40 and the prothrombin time, with significant increase in the total serum protein and the serum albumin concentrations. Histological examination revealed limited protective effect. Some hepatocytes showed preserved granular cytoplasm with vesicular nuclei; however, many hepatocytes appeared extensively vacuolated with pyknotic nuclei. Some of them were matted together with indistinct boundaries.
Therapeutic use of spirulina for 3 weeks, after induction of liver fibrosis by CCl4 (group V-B) led to statistically significant decrease of the portal pressure, the spleen/body weight ratio, serum activities of ALT, AST and ALP, serum concentrations of bilirubin and YKL-40 and the prothrombin time. Together with significant increase in the total serum protein and the serum albumin concentrations, in comparison to both group II-B and group V-A (except prothrombin time and serum albumin which showed insignificant difference from group V-A. Hepatic tissue examination showed moderate protective effect. Classical hepatic architecture was encountered with localized areas of sinusoidal dilatation and mononuclear cellular infiltration. Most hepatocytes revealed nearly normal pattern. Some hepatocytes depicted mitotic activity. However, few vacuolated cells were also noticed.
Generally, from the results of the present study, it could be concluded that IFN-2b, alfacalcidol and spirulina had antifibrotic hepatoprotective effects against of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice. This was evident in the portal pressure, the liver function tests, and the level of serum YKL-40, as well as in the histological examination of H&E stained hepatic tissue sections. Alfacalcidol provided more evident effects than the other studied drugs. The use of the previous drugs therapeutically produced more profound effects than their use prophylactically.