OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between hepatic lipase activity and fatty degeneration of hepatocytes and explore the effects of tea polyphennols (TP) on the changes of hepatic lipase (HL) activity in rabbits with fatty liver.

METHODSAccording to serum cholesterol and triglyceride (TC) levels, 19 rabbits were divided into fatty liver group (FL, n=6) fed with high cholesterol diet, TP group (n=7) fed with high cholesterol diet and 20mug/g/d tea polyphennols everyday orally, control group (n=6) fed with normal diet. After 8 weeks, the levels of serum TC, HL activity, HL activity and malondildehyde (MDA) in hepatic tissue were detected, and the pathomorphology of hepatic tissue were determined in all rabbits.

RESULTSThe fatty degeneration of hepatocyts in FL group was more severe than that in TP and control group. The serum TC level in TP group (16.87 6.58) mmol/L was higher than that (1.11 0.82) mmol/L in control group (t=5.786, p<0.05), but lower than that (28.49 5.99) mmol/L in FL group (t=3.968, p<0.05). The serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level in Tp group (5.10 4.19) mmol/L also higher than that (0.71 1.14) mmol/L in control group (t=3.763, p<0.05), but lower than that (12.15 1.95) mmol/L in FL group (t=2.478, p<0.05). The number of positive dots presenting HL activity level in 100 square micron, hepatic tissue in TP group (3.24 0.17) was higher than that (1.76 0.10) in FL group (t=-3.153, p<0.05), but lower than that (4.14 0.05) in control group (t=-2.902, p<0.05). The levels of MDA in hepatic tissue in TP group (44.66 26.18) nmol/mg was significantly lower than that (75.58 29.88) nmol/mg in FL group (t=2.261, p<0.05), but no evidently different from that (43.64 16.95) nmol/mg in control group. The plasma HL activity was no difference among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONThe HL activity in hepatic tissue with fatty degeneration of hepatocytes was lower than that in normal liver. Tea polyphennols can increase HL activity in hepatic tissue and protect hepatocytes from fatty degeneration.