Change of intestinal mucosa barrier function in the progress of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in rats

AIM:To explore the change of intestinal mucosa barrier function in the progress of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats.METHODS:Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group and model group.Rats in the control group were given normal diet,and rats in the model group were given fat-rich diet.Eight rats in each group were killed at end of the 8th and 12th wk,respectively.The levels of endotoxin,D-xylose,TG,TC,ALl" and AST,intestinal tissue SOD and MDA as well as intestinal mucus secretory IgA (sIgA) were measured.The pathology of liver was observed by HE staining.RESULTS:At end of the 8th wk,there was no marked difference in the levels of endotoxin,D-xylose and sTgA between the two groups.At end of the 12th wk,rats in the model group developed steatohepatitis and had a higher serum level of endotoxin (P = 0.01) and D-xylose (P = 0.00) and a lower serum level of sIgA (P = 0.007).CONCLUSION:Intestinal mucosa barrier malfunction may exist in NASH rats and may be an important promoter of NASH in rats.