[Effect of puerarin on levels of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA in rats with alcoholic injury liver].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the regulatory effects of puerarin on the levels of transforming growth beta1 (TGF-beta1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in rats with alcoholic injury liver, and to probe into the prevention and cure mechanism of puerarin on alcoholic liver injury.


METHODS
Seventy five SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group 10 rats. model group 20 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor twice per day), control group 15 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor + complex biejia ruangan pian 1 g kg(-1) d(-1)), puerarin high dose group 15 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor + puerarin tablet 1.5 g kg(-1) d(-1)), puerarin low dose group 15 rats (alcohol etc mixed liquor + puerarin pill 0.75 g kg(-1) d(-1)). After 8 weeks. femoral vein blood of the rats were taken out in all rats and then rats were sacrificed to obtain liver samples. Samples were collected to observe pathological change and to detect expression of TGF-beta1, and alpha-SMA in liver tissue.


RESULTS
Pathological change and hepatic fibrosis integration of liver tissue in model group were significantly changed compared with other group (P<0.05). Meanwhile the level of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA in both high and low dose puerarin groups were significantly decreased compared with model group (P<0.01). Furthermore the level of alpha-SMA of puerarin high dose group were significantly decreased compared with control group (P<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between puerarin low dose group and model group.


CONCLUSIONS
There was an ascend in the level of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA expression in rats with alcoholic injury liver, and puerarin has regulatory effects on the expression of TGF-beta1 and alpha-SMA.
Wu
Guo-Lin
GL
The first Affiliated Hospital College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. wuguolin28@yahoo.com.cn
Chen
Jiu
J
Yu
Guo-You
GY
Li
Jian-Ping
JP
Lu
Wen-Wen
WW
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000199:Actins; D000438:Alcohols; D007529:Isoflavones; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat; C033607:puerarin