title: Effects of tetrandrine on gastric mucosa and liver in portal hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of tetrandrine on portal hypertensive gastric mucosal lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Portal hypertensive models were induced in Wistar rats by 60% CCl4 3 mL/kg body weight through subcutaneous injection, once every 4 d for 56 d. The animals were randomly divided into portal hypertension, tetrandrine and propranolol groups and subsequently, treated by normal saline, tetrandrine and propranolol respectively for 15 d. Some healthy rats were used as control group. Portal venous pressure (PVP), gastric mucosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content, gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF), gastric adherent mucus (GAM), ALT, ALP and serum total bilirubin (STB), were measured and liver tissues were observed histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In tetrandrine group and propranolol group, PVP was significantly lower (1.43 ± 0.13, 1.45 ± 0.12 vs 1.89 ± 0.18 kPa; P < 0.01) and gastric mucosal PGE2 content (138.59 ± 12.68, 129.98 ± 14.31 vs 104.65 ± 12.97 pg/mg; P < 0.01), GMBF (11.80 ± 3.47, 10.54 ± 3.63 vs 6.61 ± 2.82 mL·h·kg; P < 0.05) and GAM (3.01 ± 0.15, 2.98 ± 0.21 vs 2.24 mg ± 0.26 mg; P < 0.01) was significantly higher than that in portal hypertension control group. In tetrandrine group intrahepatic proliferative fibrous tissues were reduced and serum ALT (47.67 ± 25.90 vs 189.33 ± 41.21 King U; P < 0.01), ALP (0.22 ± 0.04 vs 0.31 ± 0.06 μmol·s(-1)/L; P < 0.01) and STB (4.75 ± 0.76 vs 11.12 ± 2.93 μmol/L; P < 0.01) were lowered as compared with those in portal hypertension control group. ALT (209.34 ± 36.91 vs 189.33 ± 41.21 King U; P > 0.05) and STB (11.63 ± 3.01 vs 11.12 ± 2.93 μmol/L; P > 0.05) in propranolol group were not different from that in portal hypertension control group, but it showed more marked hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis and elevation of ALP (0.46 ± 0.05 vs 0.31 ± 0.06 μmol·s(-1)/L; P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tetrandrine can improve the functions of gastric mucosa and liver, and facilitate the absorption of intrahepatic proliferative fibrous tissues. Propranolol can aggravate hepatosis though it may improve portal hypertensive gastric mucosal lesions.
authors.affiliation: Yi Mu, Yao-Zong Shen, Yi-Fang Chu, Research Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xuzhou Medical College, and Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: Yi Mu, Yao-Zong Shen, Yi-Fang Chu, Research Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xuzhou Medical College, and Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Yi Mu, Yao-Zong Shen, Yi-Fang Chu, Research Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xuzhou Medical College, and Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou 221002, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chu
keywords: Hypertension, portal; Liver gastric mucosa; Propranolol; Tetrandrine