title: [Effect of emodin on expression of farnesoid X receptor in rats with acute cholestatic hepatitis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the effect of emodin on FXR expression in a rat model of acute cholestatic hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, and emodin groups (n=30 each). The model and emodin groups were given alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) 50 mg/kg by gavage to establish an animal model of cholestatic hepatitis, while the normal control group was given an equal volume of sesame oil. The emodin group was given emodin by gavage every day from 4 days before the model was prepared until the time of sacrifice, while the model and normal control groups were given an equal volume of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution. At 24, 48 and 72 hours after the model was prepared, serum level of total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bile acids (TBA) were measured by Aeroset automatic biochemical analyzer, and the mRNA expression of FXR in the liver tissue was measured by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At all time points FXR mRNA expression in the model group decreased, but serum levels of TB, DB, ALT and TBA increased significantly compared with the normal control group (P<0.05). The emodin group had significantly higher mRNA expression of FXR and significantly lower serum levels of TB, DB, ALT, and TBA compared with the model group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emodin can significantly reduce serum levels of TB, DB, ALT, and TBA in rats with ANIT-induced cholestatic hepatitis, probably by promoting FXR expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Wuhan 430016, China. dingy129@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Hua-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D004642:Emodin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D000099150:Receptor, Farnesoid X-Activated