AIMTo investigate the changes of lipid peroxidation level and expression of heme oxygenase-1 of the rat liver with chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia, and the effects of Safflower injection (a compond of Chinese Traditional medicine).

METHODSThirty male SD rats weighing 180 approximately 220 g were divided into three groups (n=10): control group (N group), chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia for four weeks group(F group), and Safflower injection group (H group). SOD and MDA in liver tissue were measured by spectrophotometric method. And methods Immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the distribution of HO-1 protein. Pathological changes in liver tissues were observed in HE staining section. The mRNA expressions of HO-1 in liver were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe activity of SOD of the liver in F group were significantly lower than those in N group, and the content of MDA were significantly higher. The activity of SOD of the liver in H group were significantly higher than those in F group, and the content of MDA were significantly lower. In F group there were multiple dispersed immunoreactivity cells in liver. And compared to those in F group, the immunoreactivity cells were significantly decreased in H group. HE staining revealed that there were many hepatocytes with obvious adipose degeneration. Hepatic pathological damage in H group was slighter than that in F group. The expression of HO-1 mRNA of the liver in F group were significantly higher than those in N group (P < 0.01), and those in H group were significantly lower than those in F group (P < 0.01) .

CONCLUSIONChronic hypoxia and hypercapnia increases the level of oxidative stress. Safflower injection have a protective effect, maybe because of the accommodation of the expression of HO-1 of the liver and the elimination of free radicals.