Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate (APC) act synergistically to aggravate liver injury, and influence the pathological progress of liver injury. The protective effects of compound ammonium glycyrrhizin (CAG) on liver injury were investigated. The chickens were divided into 5 groups. Group I served as the control. Group II was administered with APC once a day for 3 consecutive days. Group III was injected with LPS. Group IV was administered with APC once a day for 3 consecutive days, and then injected with LPS when the third administration of APC was provided. Group V was pre-treated with CAG in drinking water for 3 days before the treatment of APC, and continued to the end of the experiment. Samples were collected at 6, 24 and 48 h after LPS injection. ALT, AST and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased at different degrees (P<0.001); superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was significantly reduced in Groups III and IV (P<0.001). The mRNA expression levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and levels of TNF-α and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were significantly increased in Groups III and IV at different degrees (P<0.001), but not in Group II.  CD4+ and CD8+ T cells levels were significantly increased in Groups II and IV (P<0.001). Greater significant changes in these parameters were observed in Group IV when compared with Groups II and III. Meanwhile, the improvement of these parameters was due to CAG treatment. In conclusion, LPS plus APC can aggravate liver injury due to hepatic damage, oxidative stress, inflammation and immune injury, CAG may mitigate liver injury.

Key words: Amoxicillin/potassium Clavulanate (APC), Chicken, Glycyrrhizin, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Liver injury