Protective effects of tetrandrine on CCl4-injured hepatocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To study the protective effects of tetrandrine (Tet) on CCl4-injured hepatocytes.


METHODS
The cultured rat liver cells were poisoned by CCl4 (10 mmol.L-1). The membrane fluidity was detected by 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), a lipid probe. The Ca2+ concentration was assayed with Fura 2-AM, a sensitive calcium indicator.


RESULTS
Tet (1-1000 nmol.L-1) increased viability of liver cell (from 71% to 72%-89%), reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. Tet prevented the heightening of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and the attenuation of the membrane fluidity of liver cells (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Tet had a protective effect on CCl4-injured hepatocytes by inhibiting the lipid peroxidation, improving the membrane fluidity, and lessening the Ca2+ concentration.
Chen
X H
XH
Department of Pharmacology, Third Military Medical College, Chongqing, China.
Hu
Y M
YM
Liao
Y Q
YQ
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; C009438:tetrandrine; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002118:Calcium