The effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in low doses supplementation on concentrations of polar retinoid metabolites (PRM) and retinoids in the ethanol-fed rat liver, and on hepatocyte injury were investigated. The rat model of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was induced by intragastric infusion of ethanol, and then the rats were administrated with ATRA in two different doses (150 microg/kg body weight and 1.5 mg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks. Concentrations of retinoids in rat liver and plasma were determined by using HPLC. Liver tissues pathologic changes were observed under the light microscopy and electron microscopy. The serum transaminases concentrations were measured. The results showed that the HPLC analysis of retinoids revealed that retinoids (vitamin A, RA, retinyl palmitate) concentrations in ethanol-fed rat liver and RA concentration in ethanol-fed rat plasma were markedly diminished (P<0.01) after ethanol feeding for 12 weeks. Furthermore, obvious peaks of PRM were formed in livers of ethanol-fed rats. ATRA 150 microg/kg supplementation in ethanol-fed rats for 4 weeks raised RA concentration in both liver and plasma, and also raised vitamin A concentration in liver to control levels, partially restored retinyl palmitate concentration (P<0.05) in liver. ATRA 1.5 mg/kg supplementation raised not only RA concentrations in liver and plasma but also retinyl palmitate concentrations in liver. However, the vitamin A concentration in liver of ATRA-supplemented rats (1.5 mg/kg) was higher than that of controls (P<0.05). The histologic observation of liver tissues indicated that ATRA treatment notably alleviated hepatocellular swelling, steatosis, the swelling of mitochondria and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). ATRA treatment greatly decreased levels of serum transaminases as compared with the only ethanol-fed group (P<0.05). It was concluded that low-dose ATRA treatment could restore retinoids concentrations and abolish the PRM formation in liver of ALD rats, and then ameliorate the injury of liver cells.

The correlation between pulmonary endothelin receptors and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-aDO2) in rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome was investigated. Animals were divided into 2 groups: Sham-operated (Sham) group and common bile duct ligation (CBDL) group. Arterial blood gas was evaluated by a blood gas analyzer. The concentrations of ET-1 in blood and lung tissue sample were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. The distribution and expression of two kinds of subtype receptor of ET-1, ETRA and ETRB were examined by in situ hybridization. The results showed that the level of A-aDO2 was higher in CBDL group than that in Sham group (P < 0.05). The levels of plasma and pulmonary ET-1 in CBDL group were both higher than in Sham group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in average A of ETRA between two groups by imaging analysis (0.21 +/- 0.06 vs 0.22 +/- 0.08, P > 0.05), while that of ETRB was higher in CBDL group than in Sham group (0.58 +/- 0.16 vs 0.28 +/- 0.07, P < 0.05). The expression of ETRB in lung was positively correlated with A-aDO2 (P < 0.05). It was concluded that the widened A-aDO2 may be related with enhancement of the expression of ETRB in lung.
Endothelin-1/metabolism ; Hepatopulmonary Syndrome/*metabolism ; Lung/*metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Pulmonary Alveoli/*metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Endothelin A/metabolism ; Receptor, Endothelin B/*metabolism

This study examined endogenous cannabinoid (ECB)-anandamide (AEA) and its cannabinoid receptors (CBR) in mice liver with the development of schistosoma japonicum. Mice were infected with schistosoma by means of pasting the cercaria onto their abdomens. Liver fibrosis was pathologically confirmed nine weeks after the infection. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the concentration of AEA in the plasma of mice. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CBR1 and CBR2 in liver tissue. Morphological examination showed typical pathological changes, with worm tubercles of schistosoma deposited in the liver tissue, fibrosis around the worm tubercles and infiltration or soakage of inflammatory cells. Also, CBR1 and CBR2 were present in hepatocytes and hepatic sinusoids of the two groups, but they were obviously enhanced in the schistosoma-infected mice. However, the average optical density of CBR1 in the negative control and fibrosis group was 13.28+/-7.32 and 30.55+/-7.78, and CBR2 were 28.13+/-6.42 and 52.29+/-4.24 (P<0.05). The levels of AEA in the fibrosis group were significantly increased as compared with those of the control group. The concentrations of AEA were (0.37+/-0.07) and (5.67+/-1.34) ng/mL (P<0.05). It is concluded that the expression of endocannabinoids AEA and its cannabinoid receptor CBR were significantly increased in schistosoma-infected mice. Endogenous endocannabinoids may be involved in the development of schistosoma-induced liver fibrosis.
Arachidonic Acids/*metabolism ; Endocannabinoids/*metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides/*metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/*metabolism ; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/*metabolism ; Schistosomiasis japonica/*complications ; Schistosomiasis japonica/metabolism

AIM: To investigate the different vasoactive effects of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) on splanchnic arterial and venous vessels in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: Cirrhosis was induced in Wistar rats by subcutaneously administration of carbon tetrachloride. Maximal relaxation (Rmax) and contraction (Cmax) to NO and ET were determined in vitro using isolated vascular strips prepared from portal vein (PV) and mesenteric artery (MA) of both cirrhotic and normal rats, and EC50 was calculated for effects of NO and ET, respectively. RESULTS: Rmax of PV and MA to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (releasing NO) were significantly higher in cirrhotic rats (n=8) than those in normal rats (n=7), and EC50 of NO were dramatically lower in cirrhotic rats than those in control (P

The effects of pro-hepatocyte growth factor (pHGF) on the changes of renal cellular proliferative cycle of partial hepatectomized rats were observed by flow cytometry (FCM). S phase fraction (SPF) of control rats (group A) accounted for 7.58 % and increased gradually within 6 h, following a peak at 12th or 36th h after operation, but in pHGF-treated rats (group B) the peak appeared at 24th h after operation. Proliferation index (PI) of group A was 13.2%before partial hepatectomy, increased within 6 h and reached a peak at 12th or 36th h after operation, and in group B the peak appeared at 48th h after operation. There were significant differences in SPF and PI between two groups (P＜0.01). These findings suggest that pHGF may nonspecifically promote the DNA synthesis of renal cells.

The correlation between pulmonary endothelin receptors and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-aDO2) in rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome was investigated. Animals were divided into 2 groups: Sham-operated (Sham) group and common bile duct ligation (CBDL) group. Arterial blood gas was evaluated by a blood gas analyzer. The concentrations of ET-1 in blood and lung tissue sample were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. The distribution and expression of two kinds of subtype receptor of ET-1, ETRA and ETRB were examined by in situ hybridization. The results showed that the level of A-aDO2 was higher in CBDL group than that in Sham group (P＜0.05).The levels of plasma and pulmonary ET-1 in CBDL group were both higher than in Sham group (P ＜0.05). There was no significant difference in average A of ETRA between two groups by imaging analysis (0.21±0.06 vs 0.22±0.08, P＞0.05), while that of ETRB was higher in CBDL group than in Sham group (0. 58±0.16 vs 0.28±0.07, P＜0.05). The expression of ETRB in lung was positively correlated with A-aDO2 (P＜0.05). It was concluded that the widened A-aDO2 may be related with enhancement of the expression of ETRB in lung.

The effects of pro-hepatocyte growth factor (pHGF) on the changes of renal cellular proliferative cycle of partial hepatectomized rats were observed by flow cytometry (FCM). S phase fraction (SPF) of control rats (group A) accounted for 7.58 % and increased gradually within 6 h, following a peak at 12th or 36th h after operation, but in pHGF-treated rats (group B) the peak appeared at 24th h after operation. Proliferation index (PI) of group A was 13.2%before partial hepatectomy, increased within 6 h and reached a peak at 12th or 36th h after operation, and in group B the peak appeared at 48th h after operation. There were significant differences in SPF and PI between two groups (P＜0.01). These findings suggest that pHGF may nonspecifically promote the DNA synthesis of renal cells.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Hypertension, Portal ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; blood ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neuropeptide Y ; blood ; metabolism ; Portal Pressure ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium ; urine

The effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) in low doses supplementation on concentrations of polar retinoid metabolites (PRM) and retinoids in the ethanol-fed rat liver, and on hepatocyte injury were investigated. The rat model of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) was induced by intragastric infusion of ethanol, and then the rats were administrated with ATRA in two different doses (150 μg/kg body weight and 1.5 mg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks. Concentrations of retinoids in rat liver and plasma were determined by using HPLC. Liver tissues pathologic changes were observed under the light microscopy and electron microscopy. The serum transaminases concentrations were measured. The results showed that the HPLC analysis of retinoids revealed that retinoids (vitamin A,RA, retinyl palmitate) concentrations in ethanol-fed rat liver and RA concentration in ethanol-fed rat plasma were markedly diminished (P＜0.01) after ethanol feeding for 12 weeks. Furthermore, obvious peaks of PRM were formed in livers of ethanol-fed rats. ATRA 150 μg/kg supplementation in ethanol-fed rats for 4 weeks raised RA concentration in both liver and plasma, and also raised vitamin A concentration in liver to control levels, partially restored retinyl palmitate concentration (P＜0.05) in liver. ATRA 1.5 mg/kg supplementation raised not only RA concentrations in liver and plasma but also retinyl palmitate concentrations in liver. However, the vitamin A concentration in liver of ATRA-supplemented rats (1.5 mg/kg) was higher than that of controls (P＜0.05). The histologic observation of liver tissues indicated that ATRA treatment notably alleviated hepatocellular swelling,steatosis, the swelling of mitochondria and proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER).ATRA treatment greatly decreased levels of serum transaminases as compared with the only ethanol-fed group (P＜0.05). It was concluded that low-dose ATRA treatment could restore retinoids concentrations and abolish the PRM formation in liver of ALD rats, and then ameliorate the injury of liver cells.

This study examined endogenous cannabinoid (ECB)-anandamide (AEA) and its can-nabinoid receptors (CBR) in mice liver with the development of schistosomajaponicum.Mice were infected with schistosoma by means of pasting the cercaria onto their abdomens.Liver fibrosis was pathologically confirmed nine weeks after the infection.High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the concentration of AEA in the plasma of mice.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CBR 1 and CBR2 in liver tissue.Morphological examination showed typical pathological changes,with worm tubercles of schistosoma deposited in the liver tissue,fibrosis around the worm tubercles and infiltration or soakage ofinfiammatory cells.Also,CBRI and CBR2 were present in hepatocytes and hepatic sinusoids of the two groups,but they were obviously enhanced in the schistosoma-infected mice.However,the average optical density of CBR1 in the negative control and fibrosis group was 13.28±7.32 and 30.55±7.78,and CBR2 were 28.13±6.42 and 52.29±4.24 (P<0.05).The levels of AEA in the fibrosis group were significantly increased as compared with those of the control group.The concentrations of AEA were (0.37±0.07) and (5.67±1.34) ng/mL (P<0.05).It is concluded that the expression of endocannabinoids AEA and its cannabinoid receptor CBR were significantly increased in schistosoma-infected mice.Endogenous endocannabinoids may be involved in the development of schistosoma-induced liver fibrosis.