Contribution of mononuclear bone marrow cells to carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the inhibitory effect of mononuclear bone marrow cell (BMC) transplantation on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) -induced liver fibrosis in rats.


METHODS
Rat liver fibrosis models were induced by CCl(4) and alcohol administration. After 8 wk, twenty rats were randomly allocated into treatment group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). BMC were infused into the rats in treatment group via the portal vein, while heparinized saline was infused in control group. CCl(4) was hypodermically injected into the rats twice a week for 4 wk. At the end of wk 12, all rats were humanely sacrificed. Liver samples were taken and stained with HE or Masson trichrome. The general conditions, liver fibrosis (hydroxyproline and collagen fibre) and liver pathological grades in rats were evaluated.


RESULTS
The general conditions of the rats in treatment group improved markedly, but not in control group. Hydroxyproline was 504.6 +/- 128.8 microg/g in treatment group, and 596.0 +/- 341.8 microg/g in control group. The percentage of collagen fibre was 3.75% +/- 0.98% in treatment group and 5.02% +/- 0.44% in control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). Liver pathological grade decreased from grade IV to grade III partially in treatment group (P < 0.05) with no obvious improvement in control group (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference between treatment group and control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Transplantation of BMC can improve liver fibrosis due to chronic liver injury in rats.
Cao
Bao-Qiang
BQ
Department of Hepatobility Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China.
Lin
Ji-Zong
JZ
Zhong
Yue-Si
YS
Huang
Shao-Bin
SB
Lin
Nan
N
Tang
Zhao-Feng
ZF
Chen
Rui
R
Xiang
Peng
P
Xu
Rui-Yun
RY
D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003094:Collagen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D006909:Hydroxyproline