Effect of ganlike on the expression of TGF-β_ 1 mRNA in rats with experimental liver fibrosis

Objective] To study the effect of ganlike, a kind of Chinese herb compound,on the expression of TGF β 1 mRNA in rats with experimental liver fibrosis. [Methods] Rats with experimental liver fibrosis were induced by injecting 40% CCl 4 subcutaneously. After the model was made, rats with liver fibrosis were given different dosages of ganlike and colchicines. All the rats were killed at the end of the eighteenth week. The expression of TGF β 1 mRNA in the liver tissue was detected by in situ hybridization method. [Results] The expression of TGF β 1 mRNA inthe liver tissues of the model group was significantly higher than that of the normal group (P0.01); The expression of TGF β 1 mRNA in rat liver tissues of all the treatment groups was obviously lower than that of the model group (P0.01, 0.05 ). There was positive correlation between the expression of TGF β 1 mRNA and the liver fibrosis scoring in the model group(r= 0.801 ,P0.01). [Conclusion]The expression of TGF β 1 mRNA in the liver tissue of liver fibrotic rats increased and closely related with the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. Ganlike decreased the expression of TGF β 1 mRNA, which might be one of its approaches in resisting liver fibrosis.