[Bushen Rougan Recipe in prevention of hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine: a study on its preliminary mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of Bushen Rougan Recipe (BSRGR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), and to explore its preliminary mechanism.


METHODS
A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10), untreated group (n=15), and BSRGR group (n=15). Except for the rats in normal control group, hepatic fibrosis in rats was induced by peritoneal injection of DMN for 4 weeks. And the rats in the BSRGR group were also intragastrically administered BSRGR within the 4-week course. At the end of the 4-week course, rats were all sacrificed. The liver functions were determined by automatic biochemistry analyzer, including serum total bilirubin (Tbil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin. Expressions of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and collagen type I mRNA in liver tissue were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
It was found that the serum Tbil level and the activities of AST, ALT were declined in the BSRGR group as compared with those in the untreated group (P<0.01). The serum albumin content in the BSRGR group was increased as compared with that in the untreated group (P<0.01). The expressions of collagen type I and CTGF mRNAs in the untreated group were higher than those in the BSRGR group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
BSRGR can decrease the expressions of collagen type I and CTGF mRNAs in the rats with hepatic fibrosis, which may be one of possible mechanisms in treating hepatic fibrosis.
Zhang
Bin
B
Department of Oncology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China. zhxy2010@163.com
Wang
Ling-Tai
LT
D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
C501849:CCN1 protein, rat; D024042:Collagen Type I; D055515:Cysteine-Rich Protein 61; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine