The Effects Of Compound Rhodiola Sachalinensis A Bor On Rats Of Experimental Liver Fibrosis

Background and Objective : Liver fibrosis is the common end stage of most chronic liver diseases regardless of the etiology, and it's progression may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although liver fibrosis is thought to be a revresible pathological state, there is no established therapy for liver fibrosis yet. Several traditional Chinese herbs have shown a promising future on hepatoprotection in some studies. This study aimed to evalute the effects of compound Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor on experimental liver fibrosis in SD rats. By detecting liver function, several serum fibrosis-associated enzymes, serum fibrosis markers, liver histopathological changes and mRNA expressions of some essencial molecules such as TGF- ?1 and collagen I, the exact effects of compound Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor on rats of experimental liver fibrosis and its potential mechanisms may be concluded.Materials and Methods : Two batches of male SD rats were used in this study. In each batch the rats were divided randomly into three groups: N(nomal ), M(model), and T(treatment) group.The experimental liver fibrosis was produced by injection of human albumin (firstly induce sensitivity by sc injection ,followed by attacking injection through tail vein) and CC14 (30% solution in liquid paraffin, 3ml/kg twice per week for 14 weeks, sc injection ) respectively. Compound Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor (composed of Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor, Sophora flavescens Ait, etc.) was given to the T groups simultaneously (0.5g/kg, p.o. daily). At the end of the experiment, rat blood was withdrawn from the heart and the livers were removed. Liver function wasdetected with biochemical autoanalyzer. Serum levels of PCIII, CIV and HA with radioimmunoassay, the activities of 3 -NAG, NAGS, BDGP, AFU, MAO and ALD in the serum and tissue with spectrophotometric method , histopathological changes in the liver with HE, Masson and VG staining. The content of hydroxyproline in the liver tissue was examined with Jammal method. The expression of TGF-P1 mRNA and (a 1) I mRNA were observed with semi-quantified in situ RT-PCR.Results: (1) Human albumin injection could induce rat liver fibrosis.lt had a mortality of 23.33%(7/30),and 52.17% (12/23) of the rats had early liver fibrosis in the end. However,CCl4 sc injection could induce typical rat liver fibrosis more effectively (29/30, 96.67%, P<0.05) and had a similar death rate of 25.00%(10/40). Moreover, it was cheaper and easer to be operated than human albumin injection.(2) Compound Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor treatment decreased the serum and tissue levels of ALT, AST, TB, PCIII, CIV and HA, inhibited the activities of P-NAG, BDGP, MAO and ALD, and improved the histopathological changes in the liver. It increased the level of serum albumin and reduced the content of hydroxyproline in the liver tissue.The reduction of the enzymes activities in serum corelated with that of tissue and the improvement of liver histology. At the same time, it inhibited the expression of TGF-01 mRNA and ( a 1) I collagen mRNA.Conclusions: (1) CC14 sc injection could successfully induce experimental liver fibrosis in SD rats. Compared with human albumin injection, it was easier , cheaper and had higher percentage of typical liver fibrosis. Thus CC14 sc injection could be the first choice in producing experimental animal model of liver fibrosis in the studies.(2) Compound Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor could improve the histological changes in rats liver, inhibit the activities of serum and tissue fibrosis-associated enzymes, reduce the collagen producing and depositing in the liver. The mechanisms of compound Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor in protecting against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in SD rats may be inhibiting the expression of TGF-P1 mRNA and (a 1) I collagen mRNA. The future study should be made to investigate the exact molecular mechanisms of compound Rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor in protecting from liver fibrosis in animals or human beings.