[The effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on portal hypertension and hepatic microcirculation in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) on hepatic microcirculation and portal hypertension in CCl4 treated rats.


METHODS
Twenty-five male Wistar rats were divided into a blank, a CCl4 treated and a CCl4 plus EGb treated group, and all were treated for 10 weeks. The free portal vein pressures were measured through catheterizations. Hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells and other parameters of hepatic microcirculation were studied with transmission electron microscopy. The amounts of malondialdehyde (MDA), endothelin (ET-1), platelet-activating factor (PAF), nitric oxide (NO), cNOS and iNOS in the liver tissues were determined.


RESULTS
The portal vein pressure of the CCl4 plus EGb treated group was (7.4 +/- 0.6) mm Hg while the pressure of the CCl4 treated group was (8.7 +/- 0.8) mm Hg. Aggregation of blood cells or microthrombosis in hepatic sinusoids, deposition of collagen in hepatic sinusoids and spaces of Disse, injury of endothelial cells and capillarization of hepatic sinusoid were significantly milder in the EGb group. The amounts of MDA, ET-1, PAF, NO and iNOS were markedly lower in the CCl4 plus EGb treated group than in the CCl4 treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrated that EGb can decrease the portal vein pressure and improve hepatic microcirculation in CCl4 treated rats. The mechanisms of this effect may involve its inhibition on ET-1, PAF, lipid peroxidation, and down regulation of the hepatic iNOS and NO expressions.
Zhang
Chun-qing
CQ
Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
Zhu
Yu-hua
YH
Wang
Jing
J
Liang
Bin
B
Xu
Hong-wei
HW
Qin
Cheng-yong
CY
D000818:Animals; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D010936:Plant Extracts