Therapeutical Effects And Mechanisms Of Decoction Of Leech And Peach Kernel On Mice With Liver Fibrosis

Objective:To study the effects of Decoction of leech and peach kernel on mice with liver fibrosis and investigate the possible mechanisms in protection of liver fibrosis.Methods:The mice fibrosis model was induced by the infection of Schistosoma Japonicum.Afer 30 days, the 120 mice were divided randomly into the following groups: the medicine treatment group was treated with 0.5ml Decoction of leech and peach kernel every day; the model contrast group was given an equivalent dose of saline;the medicine contrast group was received of 10MU of IFNα-2b every two days. Some liver sections were stained with H&E to display liver fibrosis;The expression of a- smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in liver tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry; Immunohistochemistry and stereological analysis were adopted to observe the morphological and count change of hepatocyte apoptosis.Results:(1) Histopathology:In liver fibrosis model contrast group, H&E staining showed an amount of fibrotic tissue and severe fibrosis,while that of medicine treatment group and medicine contrast group were much less.(2)α-SMA expression: The number ofα-SMA Of the medicine treatment group and medicine contrast group were more 1ess than the model contrast group (P<0.01).(3)The number of the hepatocyte apoptosis Of the medicine treatment group and medicine contrast group were more 1ess than the model contrast group (P<0.01).Conclusion:Decoction of leech and peach kernel showed positive effects on the prevention and treatment of hepatic fibrosis induced by schistosome. The mechanisms possibly were :(1) suppressing activation of HSCs (2) inhibiting hepatocyte to apoptosis.