Comparative Study On Pathomorphological Changes Of Different Therapeutic Methods And Recipes Of Traditional Chinese Medicine On Hepatic Tissue Of Fatty Liver Rats

Objective: To research into the pathomorphological changes of different therapeuticmethods and recipes of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): soothing liver, invigoratingspleen, dispelling dampness, promoting blood circulation and complex recipes on hepatictissue of fatty liver rats with different gender in different phases.Methods: According to the sacrificed phase, one hundred and forty rats were randomlydivided into two batches: eight-week batch and twelve-week batch. Each batch wasdivided into seven groups: normal group, model group, soothing liver group, invigoratingspleen group, promoting blood circulation group, dispelling dampness group, andcomplex recipes group. Each group was also divided into two subgroups: male subgroupand female subgroup, five in each subgroup. The fatty liver rat models were reproducedby feeding with high fat diet combined with alcohol. Meanwhile, rats were respectivelyadministered medicinal solution of corresponding recipes. After the rats were sacrificed,the contents of serum TC, LDL-C, etc. were assayed and the pathomorphological changesof hepatic tissue were observed by light microscope and electron microscope.Results:1. Compared with normal group in corresponding phase, the contents of serum TC andLDL-C in model group were significantly increased (P＜0.05). Compared with modelgroup in corresponding phase, the contents of serum TC in each treatment group weredecreased.2. Pathomorphological changes in eight-week phase: By light microscope, fattydegeneration of medium degree and inflammatory infiltration from medium to severedegree were found in hepatic tissue of model group. By electron microscope, a greatmany lipid droplets and swelling of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula were found inhepatocytes of model group. Compared with modle group, the pathomorphologicalchanges in soothing liver group and invigorating spleen group were expresslyameliorated.3. Pathomorphological changes in twelve-week phase: By light microscope, fattydegeneration from medium to severe degree and inflammatory infiltration of severedegree, and focal fibrous degeneration were found in hepatic tissue of model group. By electron microscope, a great deal of aggregation of large lipid droplets, swelling ofmitochondria cumulating around cell nuclear, obvious impairment of endoplasmic reticula.and focal cellular necrosis were found in hepatocytes of model group. Compared withmale rats, the pathohistological changes in female rats were relatively ameliorated. Andcompared with model group, the pathomorphological changes in female soothing livergroup, female dispelling dampness group, male invigorating spleen group and malecomplex recipes group were expressly ameliorated.Conclusions:1. High fat diet and alcohol abuse are the main etiological factors of fatty liver. Thefunctional disorders of liver and spleen in TCM theory were the fundamentalpathogenesis.2. Gender difference could influence the pathomorphological changes of hepatic tissueof fatty liver, which prompts that sex hormone maybe has the effect to a certain degree onthe development of fatty liver.3. The therapeutic methods of soothing liver and invigorating spleen can take effect inpreventing and treating steatohepatitis in the initial stage for male and female rats. Thetherapeutic methods of soothing liver and dispelling dampness can take effect inpreventing and treating steatohepatitis in the intermediate stage for female rats. And theinvigorating spleen therapeutic method and complex therapeutic method can take effect inpreventing and treating steatohepatitis in the intermediate stage for male rats.4. It is indicated that the above therapeutic methods and recipes probably have effectsof preventing and treating fatty liver through various pathways, such as reducing theaccumulation of free fatty acid in liver, promoting the synthesis and conveying oflipoprotein, protecting cytolemma and the membrane of cell organelles. It is worth notingthat the related mechanisms of the above therapeutic methods and recipes still need tofurther investigate.