Action of somatostatin analogue (octreotide) on experimental hepatic encephalopathy in rats.

Background/aims: We investigated the effect of a somatostatin analogue (octreotide) on hepatic encephalopathy in a rat model. Fulminant hepatic failure was induced by thioacetamide twice daily for 3 consecutive days.

Methodology: Animals with hepatic encephalopathy grade III were divided into 2 groups. The groups received saline (control) or octreotide. In both groups the distance traveled in the open field activity, neurological score and mortality time were evaluated before and after the treatment.

Results: In the control group the motor activity was 13.7 +/- 6.4 and 12.9 +/- 5.5 cm/10 min, the neurological score was 8.4 +/- 0.9 and 8.5 +/- 1.3 before and after the treatment, respectively. In the octreotide group the motor activity was 11.4 +/- 5.0 and 10.4 +/- 3.5 cm/10 min, the neurological score was 8.8 +/- 1.5 and 8.6 +/- 0.9 before and after the treatment, respectively. Mortality times in the saline and octreotide group were 76.1 +/- 28.1 and 89.7 +/- 46.5 min, respectively. All parameters of this study were statistically not significant.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that somatostatin analogue, octreotide does not effect hepatic encephalopathy in an experimental rat model.