[Intervening and therapeutic effect of cordyceps mycelia extract on liver cirrhosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the intervening and therapeutic effect of Cordyceps mycelia extract (CME) on liver cirrhosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats.


METHODS
Rat liver cirrhosis model was established by peritoneal injection of DMN at a dose of 10 microg/kg, once daily in the first 3 days of every week for 4 successive weeks. Experimental study on CME-intervention was conducted from the beginning of modeling to the end of the 4th week, while the CME-treatment experiment was carried out from the 4th week of modeling, when terminating the modeling factor, to the end of the 8th week, by administering CME at a dose of 0. 74 g/( kg d) once a day. Animals were killed in batches on the 3rd day, the 2nd (T1), 4th (T2), 6th (T3) and 8th (T4) week after modeling, to observe the histopathologic change in liver and the immunohistochemical staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and collagen type I (Col I), determine the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) in liver, and the liver function was tested as well.


RESULTS
CME-intervention experiment showed that as compared to those in the modeled rats at corresponding time points, in rats at T1 and T2, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and total bilirubin (TBIL) content were significantly lower, and albumin (Alb) obviously higher; while at T2, Hyp content, ct-SMA and Col I positive expression were significantly lower (P < 0.05), the proliferation of collagen fibre attenuated. CME-treatment experiment showed that as compared to those in the modeled rats at corresponding time points, lower serum ALT, AST activity and TBIL content, and higher serum level of Alb were shown in rats at T1; and lower Hyp content, liver collagen fibre, and alpha-SMA positive expression were shown at T1 and T2; while less Col I positive expression at T2 was also shown in them (all P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CME could not only prevent the development of liver cirrhosis induced by DMN in rats, but also effectively promote the reversion of already formed liver cirrhosis, having a favourable prospect of clinical application.
Wang
Xian-Bo
XB
Institute of Hepatopathy, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai.
Liu
Ping
P
Tang
Zhi-Peng
ZP
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009036:Moths / Q000737:chemistry*; D025282:Mycelium / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001685:Biological Factors; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine