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Effect of Betaine Supplementation on Liver Tissue and Ultrastructural Changes in Methionine–Choline-Deficient Diet-Induced NAFLD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2020

Milena Vesković ,
Milica Labudović-Borović ,
Dušan Mladenović ,
Jelena Jadžić ,
Bojan Jorgačević ,
Dušan Vukićević ,
Danijela Vučević  and
Tatjana Radosavljević Open the ORCID record for Tatjana Radosavljević [Opens in a new window]
Milena Vesković
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
Milica Labudović-Borović
Affiliation:
Institute of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade11000, Serbia
Dušan Mladenović
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
Jelena Jadžić
Affiliation:
Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade11000, Serbia
Bojan Jorgačević
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
Dušan Vukićević
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
Danijela Vučević
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
Tatjana Radosavljević*
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 9, Belgrade11000, Serbia
*
*Author for correspondence: Tatjana Radosavljevic, E-mail: tatjana.radosavljevic@med.bg.ac.rs
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Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of betaine on ultrastructural changes in the mouse liver with methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced NAFLD. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into groups: Control—fed with standard chow, BET—standard chow supplemented with betaine (1.5% w/v drinking water), MCD—fed with MCD diet, and MCD + BET—MCD diet with betaine supplementation for 6 weeks. Liver samples were taken for pathohistology and transmission electron microscopy. The MCD diet-induced steatosis, inflammation, and balloon-altered hepatocytes were alleviated by betaine. MCD diet induced an increase in mitochondrial size versus the control group (p < 0.01), which was decreased in the betaine-treated group. In the MCD diet-fed group, the total mitochondrial count decreased versus the control group (p < 0.01), while it increased in the MCD + BET group versus MCD (p < 0.01). Electron microscopy showed an increase in the number of autophagosomes in the MCD and MCD + BET group versus control, and a significant difference in autophagosomes number was detected in the MCD + BET group by comparison with the MCD diet-treated group (p < 0.05). Betaine decreases the number of enlarged mitochondria, alleviates steatosis, and increases the number of autophagosomes in the liver of mice with NAFLD.

Keywords

autophagosomesbetainemitochondrianonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseultrastructure
Type
Biological Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , October 2020 , pp. 997 - 1006
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Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2020

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