OBJECTIVETo observe the apoptosis of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) and hepatocyte and the effect of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QHR) on it in alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF) rats.

METHODSRats were divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the QHR low dose (4.75 g/(kg x d)], medium dose (14.25 g/(kg x d)] and high dose (28.5 g/(kg x d)) groups, and the Essentiale (66.5 mg/(kg x d)] group. They were treated with respective drugs through gavage for 2 weeks, while the normal and model groups were given normal saline instead. The serum levels of ALT, AST and gamma-GT were measured by chromatometry, the degree of inflammation and fibrosis was observed by HE staining and Masson staining, and the apoptosis of hepatocyte and HSC were detected by TUNEL and TUNEL-alpha-SMA double immunolabeling respectively.

RESULTSCompared with those before treatment, the serum levels of ALT, AST and gamma-GT obviously decreased (P < 0.05), inflammation and fibrosis relieved (P < 0.05), and the apoptosis of hepatocyte reduced (P < 0.05), while that of activated HSC increased in the QHR groups after treatment (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONQHR can effectively relieve hepatic fibrosis, decrease hepatocyte apoptosis caused by alcohol and induce activated HSC apoptosis in ALF rats.