title: Seropharmalogical effects of Fuzheng Huayu decoction on rat Ito cell morphology and function in culture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanisms of anti-liver fibrosis actions of Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) decoction, which acts to strengthen the body's resistance and promote blood circulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ito cells were isolated from rats and cultured. Serum samples were collected from healthy (normal) rats after administration of FZHY decoction and added to the subcultured cells. The effects of FZHY decoction on the Ito cells were investigated by contrast microscopy (to observe cell morphology), [(3)H]Pro incorporation assay (cell viability), [(3)H]TdR incorporation and MTT colorimetric assay (cell proliferation), and [(3)H]Pro incorporation and collagenase digestion (collagen synthesis rate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rat sera samples from rats treated with FZHY decoction had no influence on Ito cell morphology, but improved cell viability and markedly inhibited cell proliferation and collagen synthesis. The magnitude of these effects showed dependence on treatment dosage and drug concentration in serum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seropharmalogical method can be efficiently used to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of anti-fibrotic traditional Chinese herbs and formulae. Inhibition of Ito cell proliferation and collagen synthesis may be two of the major mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrosis actions of the FZHY decoction.
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Hai Liu, Cheng-Liu, Ping Liu, Lie-Ming Xu, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Hai Liu, Cheng-Liu, Ping Liu, Lie-Ming Xu, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Hai Liu, Cheng-Liu, Ping Liu, Lie-Ming Xu, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Cheng-Hai Liu, Cheng-Liu, Ping Liu, Lie-Ming Xu, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Xu
keywords: Collagen synthesis; Fuzheng Huayu; Ito cell; Liver fibrosis