Effects of Astragalus on Liver Injury and TGF-β1 mRNA Expression in Growing Rats with Obstructive Jaundice

Objective To evaluate the effects of astragalus on liver injury and TGF-β1 mRNA expression in immature rats with obstructive jaundice(OJ).Methods Forty immature male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control,a shamoperation,an OJ,and an OJ+A groups.Wistar rats in the OJ and OJ+A group were subjectedto common bile duct ligation(CBDL),while the sham group had the bile duct mobilized but not tied.The control,sham,and OJ groups were giyen 0.5ml of normal saline by intrapedtoneal injection daily.In the OJ+A group,250mg/100g body weight of astragalus injection was applied intraperitoneally daily from day 1 to 7 of the study.All animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 8.Liver tissue and peripheral blood were colleered.Serum Alanine aminotransferase(ALT),Aspartate aminotransferase(AST),and total cholic acid(TCA)level were detected.Hepatic morphological findings were observed by light microscopy.TGF-β1 mRNA were extracted from liver and measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Data were analyzed using chi-square test and student's test(-x±s),P＜0.05 was considered statistical significance.Results ①Serum AST,ALT,and TCA value in each OJ group were significantly higher than that of the control and sham operation groups.②In the control and sham operation group,normal structure of the liver remained,but in the OJ group,obvious degeneration of hepatocytes was detected,such as cholastasis,starch accumulation and fatty degeneration.Kupffer cells and dilated Disse'space were common in the OJ group.In the OJ group.histopathologic findings of the liver demonstrated intense degree of fibrosis,but in the OJ+A group.typical changes of large duct obstruction were significantly improved after astragalus injection treatment.③The TGF-β1 mRNA over-expression in the OJ group was seen compared with the control and the OJ+A groups.Conclusion ①In growing rat model of experimental obstructive jaundice,hepatic morphology and liver biochemical tests altered significantly.②The administration of astragaius can ameliorate liver damage and diminish expression of TGF-β1 mRNA of hepatic tissue,thus administration of astragalus may be effective in preventing hepatic injury in growing rats with obstructive jaundice. Key words: Obstructive jaundice; Aslragalus; Liver damage; Gene expression; TGF-β1 mRNA