title: [Intervention of berberine on lipid deposition in liver cells of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease rats induced by high fat diet].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of berberine on lipid metabolism disorder and lipid deposition in liver cells of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats induced by high fat diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  After one week adaptable feeding, 45 SPF level male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the normal control group, the model group, and the berberine group, 15 in each group. Except those in the normal control group, all rats were fed with high fat diet to prepare NAFLD model. As for rats in the berberine group, Berberine Hydrochloride was administered by gastrogavage. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to identify the model after 8 weeks. Hepatocytes were isolated, and their activities and purities were tested by Typan blue staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were detected using automatic biochemical analyzer. mRNA expression levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were analyzed by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were examined by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. The yields of purified liver cells in each rat were (6.0-7.5) x 10(8). The viability of isolated liver cells with purity over 90% (tested by FCM analysis) was higher than 95%. Compared with the normal control group,the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was higher in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was obviously down-regulated in the berberine group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LXRα/FAS signaling pathway was one of important signaling pathways of NAFLD lipid metabolism disorders. Berberine could recover hepatocyte fatty deposits in NAFLD rats by adjusting the LXR/FAS signaling pathway of hepatocytes, which might be one of important mechanisms for fighting against NAFLD.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Qin-He
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yu-Pei
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hai-Zhen
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiang-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Pan-Pan
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yin-Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005234:Fatty Liver; D022781:Hepatocytes; D008055:Lipids; D008297:Male; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008055:Lipids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001599:Berberine