卵巢切除对四氯化碳诱导大鼠肝纤维化形成的影响

为探讨卵巢切除对CCl4 诱导大鼠肝纤维化形成的影响 ,采用CCl4 诱导雌性大鼠肝纤维化动物模型 ,观察卵巢切除及雌激素替代治疗 (苯甲酸雌二醇 1mg kg)对肝脏胶原沉积和I、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白表达的影响 ,并分别检测血清学标志及肝脏组织学等变化。结果显示CCl4 模型组大鼠肝脏发生典型的肝纤维化改变 ,卵巢切除组的肝脏胶原沉积更为明显 ,肝脏表达I、Ⅲ型胶原及血清肝纤维化指标也明显高于CCl4 摸型组 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而雌激素干预及替代治疗则可抑制肝纤维化的形成。表明卵巢切除加速CCl4 诱导大鼠肝纤维化的形成 ,其发生可能与卵巢分泌的雌激素对肝纤维化的抑制作用有关。     

肝细胞生长因子对肝纤维化进程中肝细胞再生及α平滑肌肌动蛋白表达的影响

目的:探讨肝细胞生长因子(hepatocyte growth factor,HGF)在大鼠肝纤维化进程中对肝细胞再生及α平滑肌肌动蛋白(alph smooth mucle actin,α-SMA)表达的影响.方法:将SD大鼠随机分为2组:对照组(n=20)肝70%切除后腹腔注射CCl4和生理盐水8周;实验组(n= 20)肝70%切除后腹腔注射CCl4和HGF 8周.术后8周取残肝行HE、Masson、α-SMA免疫组化染色及电镜观察.结果:HE显示,实验组肝再生指数较对照组明显升高(P<0.05),而Masson和α-SMA免疫组化染色分别显示胶原纤维、α-SMA的表达减少(P<0.05).电镜显示,实验组肝细胞有内大量脂滴,间质胶原纤维减少;肝星状细胞(hepatic stellate cell,HSC)内脂滴较对照组减少.结论:在肝纤维化进程中,HGF可促进肝细胞增殖,抑制HSC活化,减少胶原纤维的形成和α-SMA的表达.     

金丝桃苷对CCl4诱导大鼠急性肝损伤抗氧化应激研究

目的研究金丝桃苷（Hyp）对四氯化碳（CCI。）诱导大鼠急性肝损伤的治疗作用。方法采用大鼠CCl4急性肝损伤模型,观察Hyp对急性肝损伤大鼠肝脏组织病理学改变的影响;检测肝组织匀浆中超氧化物歧化酶（T-SOD）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）的活性及丙二醛（MDA）含量变化。结果CCl4模型组大鼠肝组织HE染色病理检测结果见明显炎症变性死及纤维组织增生现象;Hyp高剂量60mg／kg、中剂量30mg／kg治疗组的肝组织病理改变明显改善;Hyp治疗组肝组织中T—SOD、GSH活性明显升高,MDA含量明显降低,并存在量效关系。结论Hyp对CCl4引起的大鼠急性肝损伤有较好的治疗作用,其机制可能与其抗氧化活性有关。     

红花黄色素对大鼠中毒性肝纤维化血清和肝组织HA和LN及胶原含量的影响

目的本实验以透明质酸(HA)、层粘连蛋白(LN)为指标,观察CCl4诱导大鼠中毒性肝损伤和肝纤维化后肝组织内储脂细胞变化和胶原的沉积及红花黄色素对其变化的影响,以探讨红花黄色素对中毒性肝纤维化防治作用的机制.方法Wistar大鼠随机分为3组①病理模型组接受40%CCl4一橄榄油皮下注射,剂量为1.2mL/kg体重,每周2次,共12周,与治疗组等容量生理盐水灌胃;②红花黄色素治疗组接受40%CCl4一橄榄油注射,方法、剂量同病理模型组,同时红花黄色素550mg/kg体重灌胃,每日1次,共12周;③正常对照组接受橄榄油皮下注射,方法、剂量同上.各组分别于实验开始后,每隔3周随机处死5只大鼠,剩余大鼠于12周末全部处死.断头采血,分离血清,取1g新鲜肝组织匀浆,用放免法测定大鼠血清和肝匀浆中HA、LN含量.肝组织V-G染色,用病理图像分析系统进行胶原定量分析.用透射电镜观察肝组织内储脂细胞变化.结果红花黄色素治疗组大鼠血清和肝匀浆中HA、LN含量及肝组织内胶原含量和储脂细胞变化显著低于病理模型组.结论红花黄色素能抑制肝脏储脂细胞增殖转化及HA、LN的合成,减少胶原沉积,有防治CCl4诱发中毒性肝纤维化的作用.     

细脚拟青霉多糖对抗四氯化碳诱导的急性肝损伤水

目的:观察细脚拟青霉粗多糖(cPtPs)及其纯化多糖(PtPs)对四氯化碳(CCL)诱导大鼠急性肝坏死的影响.方法:将Wistar大鼠分为4组(对照组、CCl4组、cPtPs CCl4组和PtPs CCI4组),分别用生理盐水、cPtPs和PtPs灌胃15 d,最后2 d,腹腔注射CCI4,16 h后全自动生化分析仪检测血清中丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBIL)、直接胆红素(DBIL)和间接胆红素(IBIL);肝组织苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察病变程度;黄嘌呤氧化酶法和硫代巴比妥酸法分别检测肝匀浆中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和丙二醛(MDA);甲基百里香酚蓝比色法测定肝细胞线粒体中Ca2 浓度;免疫组织化学法检测肝组织中平滑肌肌动蛋白(A)的表达.结果:与对照组比较,CCl.组血清中ALT、AST、TBIL、DBIL和IBIL的含量显著增加(P<0.05),HE染色肝组织变性坏死累及全小叶.与CCI4组比较,PtPs CCI4组血清中ALT、AST、TBIL、DBIL和IBIL的含量显著下降(P<0.05);PtPs CCI4组HE染色病变程度较轻,变性坏死局限于肝小叶的Ⅲ区;PtPs CCl4组胞浆中SOD活性提高,MDA水平降低(P相似文献   

生长抑素及奥曲肽的肝细胞保护作用及其机制研究

目的： 探讨生长抑素（SST）及其类似物奥曲肽（OCT）对大鼠肝细胞的保护作用及其机制。方法: 以原代培养肝细胞建立无水乙醇/四氯化碳（CCl4）细胞损伤模型，观察SST及OCT预处理对培养上清液中丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）含量的影响。此外，将75只SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、肝纤维化模型组及大、中、小剂量SST治疗组。除正常对照组外均以40％CCl4皮下注射8周，期间各SST治疗组分别给予SST 200 μg·kg-1·d-1、100 μg·kg-1·d-1、50 μg·kg-1·d-1。采用酶试剂法、末端核苷酸转移酶介导的脱氧三磷酸尿苷原位缺口末端标记法（TUNEL）分别检测肝功能及肝细胞凋亡指数。结果: 经SST（10-8-10-6 mol/L）及OCT（10-7-10-5 mol/L）预处理后，损伤模型组肝细胞的培养上清液中ALT、AST水平显著下降。不同剂量SST治疗还能明显降低肝纤维化大鼠的血清ALT、AST、碱性磷酸酶（ALP）及总胆红素（TBIL）水平，提高血清清蛋白（ALB）水平，抑制肝细胞凋亡，其中小剂量SST治疗组最佳。结论: SST及OCT可减轻CCl4引起的肝细胞损伤，改善肝功能，并抑制肝细胞凋亡，可能在肝纤维化的防治中发挥重要作用。     

姜黄素和γ-干扰素对肝纤维化大鼠肝组织病理变化及TIMP-1表达的作用

目的:观察肝纤维化大鼠肝组织病理学变化及金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子-1(TIMP-1)的表达水平,探讨姜黄素和γ-干扰素及两者联合治疗抗肝纤维化的作用。方法:将40只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型组和治疗组,治疗组中又分为姜黄素治疗、γ-干扰素治疗及联合治疗3个亚组,采用CCl4腹腔注射制作大鼠肝纤维化模型。各治疗组采取相应药物和剂量平行治疗4周,第10周末将各组大鼠处死,取肝组织切片HE染色观察组织病理学变化(包括肝纤维化程度);用半定量RT-PCR方法检测各组肝组织TIMP-1mRNA相对表达量。结果:肝组织病理学观察显示,模型组大鼠肝索排列紊乱,肝细胞变性坏死,汇管区和小叶内出现局限性纤维化,部分区域出现纤维纵隔,甚至假小叶形成,纤维化分级为Ⅳ～Ⅴ级(Ⅴ级为主),TIMP-1mRNA相对表达量较正常对照组明显升高(P<0.01);各治疗组肝组织病理变化明显改善,肝细胞变性坏死减少,肝纤维化程度明显减轻(以Ⅲ级为主),TIMP-1mRNA表达量明显低于模型组(P<0.01)。结论:姜黄素和γ-干扰素及两者联合治疗均能减轻肝纤维化大鼠组织病理学变化并下调肝组织TIMP-1mRNA表达,改善和逆转肝纤维化进程。     

人肝干细胞移植增加四氯化碳诱导性肝硬化大鼠白蛋白表达

目的 旨在研究人胚胎肝干细胞移植入四氯化碳(CCl4)诱导性肝硬化大鼠的肝组织后,大鼠血清及肝组织血清白蛋白(ALB)表达的变化情况.方法 将健康雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组和肝硬化组.对照组背部皮下注射橄榄油,CCl4组背部皮下注射CCl4橄榄油.连续注射6周后,肝硬化组再随机分为肝干细胞假移植组和肝干细胞移植组.对照组和假移植组在大鼠肝中叶注射细胞培养液,而移植组则在相应部位注射人胚胎肝干细胞2×106,移植4周后处死所有大鼠.右心室取血离心观察ALB的含量;肝中叶取材,免疫组织化学染色观察人表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)的表达,免疫荧光染色和免疫印迹法(Western blotting)法观察和测定肝组织ALB的表达变化.结果 对照组和肝干细胞假移植组未见人EGFR阳性表达的细胞,肝干细胞移植组则可见大量排列成环状的EGFR阳性表达的细胞.在肝干细胞移植组的血清ALB含量、免疫荧光染色及Western blotting法检测肝组织ALB表达,均明显高于假移植组,而与对照组无明显著异.结论 将人胚胎肝干细胞移植入肝硬化大鼠肝内可以长期存活,并可改善大鼠ALB的表达和分泌.     

熊果酸对肝纤维化大鼠NOX2/ROS/NLRP3炎性小体活化的影响

目的观察熊果酸(UA)对肝纤维化模型大鼠肝内胶原沉积的改善作用及其对NADPH氧化酶2(NOX2)/活性氧簇(ROS)/NLRP3炎性小体活化的影响。方法将大鼠随机分为对照组、CCl4模型组及UA治疗组。用CCl4诱导构建SD大鼠肝纤维化模型,一半用作UA治疗组。用试剂盒检测血清ALT含量;HE染色观察肝脏病理;天狼星红染色观察肝内胶原沉积;RT-q PCR法检测Nox2、Nlrp3、caspase1及IL-1βmRNA表达量;Western blot及免疫组化检测肝脏中NOX2、NLRP3、casepase-1 p45、caspase-1 p10及IL-1β蛋白表达;DCFH-DA荧光探针法检测肝脏组织内ROS水平。结果与对照组相比,CCl4模型组血清ALT水平升高(P0.05),Ishak's肝纤维化评分明显上升,胶原沉积明显增多(P0.05),Nox2、Nlrp3、Caspase1及IL-1βmRNA的表达水平明显上升(P0.05);NOX2、NLRP3、caspase-1 p10及IL-1β蛋白的表达均出现明显增加,肝组织内ROS含量增加(P0.05);与CCl4模型组相比,UA治疗组血清ALT含量下降(P0.05),肝脏Ishak's肝纤维化评分及胶原沉积减少(P0.05),Nox2、Nlrp3、caspase1及IL-1βmRNA的表达水平明显下降(P0.05),NOX2、NLRP3、caspase-1 p10及IL-1β蛋白表达明显下降,肝脏组织内ROS水平显著改善(P0.05)。结论 UA减轻肝脏炎性反应并减少肝内胶原沉积,其机制可能与其抑制肝纤维化大鼠肝内NOX2/ROS/NLRP3炎性小体活化及IL-1β的释放减少有关。     

重组腺病毒Ad-HGF-hIL10基因治疗大鼠肝纤维化

目的 探讨人IL-10和HGF双表达的重组腺病毒hIL10-HGF对大鼠肝纤维化的治疗效果,以期为肝纤维化的基因治疗提供实验基础.方法 建立SD大鼠肝纤维化模型后,将1.5×108 PFU的Ad-HGF、Ad-hIL10和Ad-HGF-hIL10经尾静脉注射入大鼠体内,模型组和对照组注射同剂量的0.9％氯化钠注射液.第15天心脏采血,检测血清的肝功能指标,并取肝组织做HE染色,观察各组大鼠肝脏的病理形态.结果 与模型组大鼠相比,治疗组大鼠的肝组织损伤程度减轻,汇管区看不到明显的纤维增生.各治疗组的TBIL、ALT、AST显著低于模型组(P＜0.01),而ALB显著升高(P＜0.01),肝功能得到了明显的改善,而Ad-HGF-hIL10双基因治疗组与Ad-HGF、Ad-hIL-10单基因治疗组相比,ALT、AST显著降低(P＜0.05),白球比(0.83±0.11)与其他两个单基因治疗组Ad-HGF (0.74±0.05)和Ad-hIL-10(0.73±0.05)相比显著上升(P＜0.01).结论 用HGF和hIL-10双基因的腺病毒载体治疗大鼠肝纤维化,肝功能的改善效果明显优于单基因治疗组.     

三七总皂甙对脂肪变性L02肝细胞TG含量及LXRα mRNA表达的影响

目的： 观察三七总皂甙(PNS)对脂肪变性L02肝细胞内甘油三酯(TG)含量及肝X受体α（LXRα）mRNA表达的影响,探讨其对脂肪变性肝细胞的降脂作用及机制。方法: 采用50%小牛血清诱导L02肝细胞48 h建立肝细胞脂肪变性模型,采用MTT法测定PNS作用于脂肪变性肝细胞的适宜浓度,随后将其分为5组,模型组、自然恢复组、PNS低剂量组（10 mg·L-1）、PNS高剂量组（50 mg·L-1）,并设正常组,除模型组继续予含50%小牛血清的 RPMI-1640培养基培养外,余组均改予含10%小牛血清培养。药物作用24 h后,油红O染色观察肝细胞内脂滴变化,全自动生化仪检测肝细胞内TG含量,运用RT-PCR法检测肝细胞内LXRα mRNA的表达。结果: 与正常组比较,油红O染色示模型组肝细胞内橘红色脂滴明显增加,并出现脂滴融合现象,模型组TG含量明显升高（P＜0.01）。PNS治疗24 h后,PNS各治疗组与自然恢复组比较,肝细胞内TG含量均明显减少（P＜0.05）,以低剂量组下降更为显著（P＜0.01）;油红O染色显示,PNS低剂量组肝细胞内脂滴数减少最为明显。与正常组比较,模型组肝细胞LXRα mRNA的表达明显上调（P＜0.01）;与自然恢复组比较,PNS各治疗组肝细胞LXRα mRNA的表达量均有下降,以低剂量组下降显著（P＜0.05）。结论: PNS能显著降低脂肪变性肝细胞内TG含量,减轻肝细胞脂肪变性。LXRα mRNA的高表达与肝细胞脂肪蓄积密切相关,PNS可能是通过下调LXRα mRNA的表达来改善肝细胞的脂肪变性。     

Chlordecone-induced potentiation of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity: a light and electron microscopic study

Previous studies have shown that a chlorinated pesticide, chlordecone (Kepone), greatly potentiates carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) hepatotoxicity and lethality (Curtis, L.R., Williams, W.L., and Mehendale, H.M. (1979). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 51, 283-293; Curtis, L.R., and Mehendale, H.M. (1980). Drug Metab. Dispos. 8, 23-27). The present study describes sequential morphologic changes which occurred in livers of rats given a "nontoxic" level of chlordecone (10 ppm for 15 days) followed by a single injection of CCl4 (0.1 ml/kg). The hepatic alterations were examined 1 to 36 hr after exposure of the rats to CCl4. Those changes were compared to hepatic alterations which occurred in rats that received the same dose of chlordecone (10 ppm for 15 days) or a single injection of CClr (0.1 ml/kg) alone. The only change noted in livers from rats that received chlordecone alone was focal increase in smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) of hepatocytes at 24 hr and continuing throughout the time course of the experiment. Livers from animals that received CCl4 alone showed morphologic changes at 6 hr consisting of glycogen loss, increase in SER, and dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in pericentral hepatocytes. Accumulation of small lipid droplets was also noted in midzonal hepatocytes. After 6 hr, there was no further increase in severity of injury. At 12 hr recovery was noticeable and, by 36 hr, livers from the CCl4 group appeared normal. Prior administration of chlordecone greatly potentiated pathologic changes in livers of animals that received CCl4. By 4 hr, there was total loss of glycogen in hepatocytes throughout the entire lobule. Small lipid droplets were present in pericentral, midzonal and periportal hepatocytes. Hepatocytes with extremely dilated RER were randomly scattered throughout the entire lobule. At 6 hr, there was further accumulation of lipid in the form of large droplets in hepatocytes. Focal, necrotic cells surrounded by polymorphonuclear leukocytes were randomly distributed throughout the lobule. The number of necrotic foci had progressively increased at the 12- and 24-hr intervals. By 36 hr, confluent areas of necrosis in pericentral and midzonal areas were observed in livers of some animals. This study indicates that although the combination of chlordecone and CCl4 produces much greater hepatic injury resembling damage due to a massive dose of CCl4, histologically, some differences in the progression and distribution of hepatocellular damage within the lobular architecture of the liver are evident.     

No contribution of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells to liver regeneration in a rat model of prolonged hepatic injury

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal (MS) cells from adult bone marrow are a cell population that can be expanded to large numbers in culture. MS cells might be differentiated toward hepatocytes in vitro and thus are promising candidates for therapeutic applications in vivo. The efficacy of bone marrow-derived MS cells versus hepatocytes to contribute to liver regeneration was compared in a rat model of prolonged toxic hepatic injury. Liver damage was induced by injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) or allyl alcohol (AA) with and without retrorsine (R) pretreatment. MS cells or hepatocytes of wild-type F344 rats were injected into dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)-deficient syngeneic rats. Hepatocyte chimerism was higher after intraportal hepatocyte transplantation in the R/AA group (mean maximal cluster size [MCS] = 21 cells) compared with the R/CCl(4) treatment group (MCS = 18). No hepatocyte engraftment was outlined following post-transplant CCl(4) injection only, whereas mere AA injection resulted in small clusters of donor-derived hepatocytes (MCS = 2). Intraparenchymal injection of hepatocytes was associated with a MCS = 11 after R/AA treatment and a MCS = 6 after AA administration alone. Redistribution of MS cells to the liver was shown after intraportal and intraparenchymal injection. In contrast to hepatocyte transplantation, however, donor-derived DPPIV-positive cells could not be demonstrated in any recipient after MS cell transplantation. Data from the present study indicate that a well-defined population of MS cells obtained according to established standard protocols does not differentiate into hepatocytes in vivo when transplanted under regenerative conditions, in which the application of hepatocytes results in stable hepatic engraftment.     

Swim exercise training ameliorates hepatocyte ultrastructural alterations in rats fed on a high fat and sugar diet

Excessive consumption of carbohydrate and fat increases the risk of liver disease. We hypothesized that swim exercise can protect hepatocytes from ultra-structural damage induced by high cholesterol and fructose diets (HCFD). Rats were either fed with HCFD (model group) or a standard laboratory chow (control group) for 15 weeks before being sacrificed. Swim exercise trained rats started the treatment from the 11^th week until the sacrifice day, end of week 15. Blood samples were assayed for biomarkers of liver injury and adiponectin. The harvested liver tissues were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM images revealed substantial damage and accumulation of lipid droplets (steatosis) in the hepatocytes of the model group that was inhibited by swim exercise. In addition, HCFD significantly (p < 0.0005) increased insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), which were effectively (p < 0.02) decreased by a swim exercise to levels comparable to control group. Whereas, swim exercise increased adiponectin levels in HCFD group (p < 0.03). These results show that HCFD-induced hepatic injury is ameliorated by swim training exercise possibly via restoration of a normal blood sugar and lipid, induction of adiponectin and inhibition of inflammatory, and liver injury biomarkers.     

The hepatoprotective effects of XCHD and MgIG against methotrexate-induced liver injury and inflammation in rats through suppressing the activation of AIM2 inflammasomes

BackgroundRecent studies have shown that drug-induced liver injury may be related to the immune response activated by drugs. A cytosolic dsDNA inflammasome called absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) was found to be associated with aseptic inflammation. The present study aimed to explore the effects of on the liver injury and inflammation in methotrexate (Mtx)-induced rats.MethodsSprague Dawley (SD) rats were selected and classified into 4 groups randomly, includes control group, Mtx group, Mtx-Xiaochaihu decoction (XCHD) group and Mtx-magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) group. Light microscopy was used to examine histological specimens after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The AST levels in liver tissue and blood serum ALT in the rats were assessed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then AIM2 expression and inflammatory factors, including caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β, in the liver biopsy specimens of rats were detected by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the correlation between inflammatory and AIM2 expression factors was comprehensively analyzed.ResultsFunctional and structural hepatotoxicity can be caused by the exposure to Mtx, which was supported by the improved biochemical marker levels and the worse histopathological changes in liver tissue. Compared with the Mtx group, the levels of liver enzymes ALT and AST, histological deterioration in the liver tissues were effectively decreased by XCHD and MgIG treatment, respectively. In addition, the expression of AIM2, caspase-1 and IL-1β was observably higher in the Mtx group, which was apparently inhibited in the Mtx-XCHD and Mtx-MgIG groups. There was no obvious change in IL-18 expression among four groups. AIM2 expression were positively associated with the severity of liver inflammation and had a higher relevance with caspase-1 expression.ConclusionsAIM2 inflammasome in hepatocytes has a significant effect on the development of Mtx-induced liver injury, which can be ameliorated by both XCHD and MgIG treatment. The latent mechanism and potential signal pathway require further study.     

Effect of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats

This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of fermented Angelicae gigantis Radix (AGR) with Monascus purpureus strain on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. The activities of liver marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the levels of lipid peroxidation were increased when CCl(4) was treated but these parameters were significantly decreased by fermented AGR treatment. CCl(4) treatment exhibited decrease in serum concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and free fatty acids, and these were also decreased by fermented AGR administration. The level of serum leptin was significantly lower in fermented AGR administration than that in normal control group. CCl(4) treatment significantly increased the concentration of liver triglyceride. The current study observed significant elevations of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) levels in the liver homogenate, mitochondrial, and microsomal fractions of CCl(4) control group compared with normal control group. CCl(4) treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of plasma and hepatic glutathione, but these reductions were significantly increased by fermented AGR administration. CCl(4) induced the marked hepatocytes necrosis and fatty accumulation around the central veins. Accordingly, fermented AGR may be an ideal candidate for the hepatoprotective effect in animal model.     

Ethanol effects on protein synthesis in nonparenchymal liver cells, hepatocytes, and density populations of hepatocytes

Rats were given ethanol chronically (20-30% of the energy) in a nutritionally sufficient diet regimen. Controls received lipid as an isoenergetic substitute for ethanol. Protein synthesis in hepatocytes isolated from ethanol-fed rats was decreased compared with controls, but not in isolated nonparenchymal liver cells. Ethanol added in vitro inhibited protein synthesis in hepatocytes by 30%, but not in nonparenchymal cells for both ethanol-fed and control rats. Protein export and protein degradation in isolated hepatocytes were not affected by long-term ethanol treatment. Isolated hepatocytes were separated according to their buoyant density in linear metrizamide gradients. They were distributed in a bell-shaped manner regardless of donor rat treatment. Cells of low density contained three times as much lipid as high density cells. They were probably enriched in periportal cells, since histologic examination indicated a predominantly periportal localization of cells containing lipid droplets. Distribution of the intra-acinar marker alanine aminotransferase supported this conclusion. Protein synthesis was similar in the low-density hepatocyte populations of the respective groups of rats, whereas it was inhibited in a high-density population of ethanol-treated rats compared to the controls. Inhibition of protein synthesis by 80 mM ethanol was lower in the low-density hepatocytes of ethanol-fed rats.     

Adaptive growth changes in the liver remnant are affected by the size of hepatectomy in rats

In this study we investigated the dynamics of hepatocyte hyperplasia and hypertrophy in rats subjected to increasing sizes of partial hepatectomy (PH). A total of 104 rats were randomized according to the size of PH. On postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3 and 5, blood was drawn and the remnant liver removed for stereological analysis. Liver parameters and regeneration rate were significantly affected by size of PH. On POD 1, hepatocyte volumes had increased significantly in all PH groups. On POD 3, all groups showed hepatocyte volumes approximating baseline. On POD 5, hepatocyte volumes were significantly lower in PH (90) than in baseline, sham and PH (30) rats. Increasing hepatocyte proliferation was not observed following PH (30). Following PH (70), cell proliferation was significantly elevated on PODs 1 and 3, and following PH (90) on PODs 3 and 5. In conclusion, general hypertrophy of hepatocytes after different size of PH was followed by hepatocyte proliferation only in the liver remnant of PH (70) and PH (90).