Effects of recombinant human growth hormone on development of immune complex liver fibrosis in rats

Objective To assess the relationship between recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and the development of liver fibrosis and to determine whether rhGH has the effect of antifibrogenesis. Methods The model of immune complex liver fibrosis was established in rats by injection of human serum albumin through the tail vein twice a week for 10 weeks. After the basic immune stage for 44 days, the rats were subcutaneously injected with rhGH at a dose of 0.24 mg/kg once every night for 10 weeks. Then the hisopathological changes in liver tissue were observed and the content of collagen derived from hydroxyproline determined. The serum concentrations of laminin (LN) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were measured with radioimmunoassay. Meanwhile, the total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), alanine transaminase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were determined in each rat. Results rhGH significantly decreased the liver fibrosis grades (P0.01), reduced liver collagen content (P0 05), decreased serum levels of LN and HA (P0 05) and markedly enhanced liver function (P0.05). Conclusions rhGH can prevent or postpone the development of immune complex liver fibrosis in rats. Therefore, it has certain antifirbrogenic effect.