Effects of Somatropin on hepatic apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice

【Objective】 To observe the hepatic apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice(OJ),and the beneficial effects of Somatropin.【Methods】 Seventy two male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the sham operated group(SO,n =24),the obstructive jaundice group(OJ,n =24) and the Somatropin treated group(RH,n =24).After bile duct ligation,the group RH were treated by Somatropin injections(0.8 IU/Kg/d),while the group SO and OJ were treated by physiological saline.The blood and hepatic tissues were respectively obtained on the 3 rd,7rdand 14 rd day after operation.The serumal total bilirubin(TBIL) and total bile acid(TBA) were measured by routine methods,the hepatic apoptosis were investigated by using TUNEL,and the expression of Bcl-2 were determined by using immunohistochemical SP methods.【Results】 The serumal TBIL and TBA obviously increased on the 3rd day after operation in both group OJ and group RH,and then decreased after this time,The serumal TBIL and TBA in group RH were obviously lower than group OJ(P 0.05) at every time point.The longer the time of OJ in the rats,the higher the level of hepatic apoptosis in group OJ and group RH,and the apoptosis index(AI) reached climax on the 14 th·day.Compared with group OJ,less hepatic apoptosis occurred in group RH at every time point(P 0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 was consistent with hepatic apoptosis,but compared with group OJ,the expression of Bcl-2 was obviously up-regulated in group RH at each time point(P 0.05).【Conclusions】 Hepatic apoptosis plays an important role in the hepatic injury of rats with obstructive jaundice.Somatropin exerts beneficial effects on hepatic cells by anti-apoptosis mechanism.