Effect of 17β-estradiol on portal venous pressure in rat liver fibrosis

Objective To explore the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on portal venous pressure (PVP) in liver fibrosis induced by CCl_4.Methods Forty male rats were divided into 4 groups,including groups A,B,C and D.Liver fibrosis was induced in all male rats by CCl_4 administration for 12 weeks.Rats in groups A and B were treated with E2 (2 mg/kg) twice a week and E2 (1 mg/kg) twice a week respec- tively,and those in group C served as control group.Rats in group D were treated with tamoxifen (6 mg/ kg) every day orally.All the rats were anesthetized at the 13th week.The PVP was measured and the fresh liver tissue was collected.The expression of NF-kappa Bp65 mRNA and TGF-β1 mRNA in rat livers was detected by real-time PCR,quantity of collagen fibers (CF) in rat livers by Massion stain,and correlations among above detective factors by correlative analysis respectively.Results (1) The PVP in all groups was increased progressively as:ABCD (F=54.712,P0.05);(2) The expression of NF-kappa Bp65 mRNA in all groups was increased progressively as:ABCD(F=109.024,P0.05 );(3) The expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in all groups was increased progressively as:ABCD(F= 224.969,P0.01);(4) The expression of CF in all groups was increased progressively as:ABCD (F=6.929,P0.01);(5) In all liver tissues,NF-kappa Bp65 mRNA and TGF-β1 mRNA were line- arly correlated (r=0.724,P0.01 );TGF-β1 mRNA and CF were linearly correlated (r=-0.871, P0.05);CF and PVP were linearly correlated (r=0.902,P0.05).Conclusion E2 could inhibit the expression of NF-kappa Bp65 to reduce the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA,which could lessen the pro- duction of CF to degrade PVP in rat liver fibrosis.