ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of tea polyphenols intervention on excess alcohol intake induced liver injury in rats. This study established the animal model of chronic liver injury rats induced by alcohol. Our results will provide experimental evidence for the effects of tea polyphenol on chronic alcoholic liver injury.@*METHODS@#Alcohol-induced liver injury rat models were established, and the tea polyphenols intervention was performed in the meantime. After 8 weeks, rats were anesthetized, and visceral fat and liver samples were separated, weighted and stored. Visceral fat content was evaluated in fat/body weight ratio. Liver lipid accumulation was assessed by liver index and the result of Oil Red O staining. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total antioxidant capacity assay (T-AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were detected. And fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) protein level in liver was detected.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group rats, the fat/body weight ratio, SOD/MDA, T-AOC and GSH-Px activity of chronic liver injury rats were decreased significantly (<0.05,<0.01). Meanwhile the liver index, FAT/CD36 protein level and lipid deposition in liver of chronic liver injury rats were increased (<0.01). Compared with chronic liver injury rats, the tea polyphenols intervention increased fat/body weight ratio (<0.05), and significantly increased SOD/MDA, T-AOC and GSH-Px activity (<0.01). Meanwhile the tea polyphenols intervention reduced liver index (<0.01), FAT/CD36 protein level (<0.01) and lipid deposition in liver.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Tea polyphenols intervention can improve lipid deposition and oxidative stress in chronic alcoholic liver, which is concurrent with decreased FAT/CD36 protein expression on the hepatocyte membrane.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Antioxidants , Liver , Malondialdehyde , Polyphenols , Superoxide Dismutase , TeaABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the electrical activity property changes in nucleus accumbens (NAc) of heroin-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) rats during different stages of heroin dependence and to explore NAc's roles in the formation of drug dependence.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Recording electrodes were bilaterally embedded into the NAcs of rats with the aid of stereotaxic apparatus, followed by establishment of heroin-dependent rat model. The NAc electrical activity during 3 different stages of heroin dependence, including heroin pre-exposure, immediate post-exposure and heroin withdrawal, were respectively recorded using EEG wireless telemetry techniques. The frequency distribution (ranging from 0.5 to 30 Hz) and the amplitude of NAc electrical activity were analyzed and measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Heroin-dependent rat models were successfully established and their withdrawal symptoms were evident. All rats showed a conditioned place preference (CPP) for the white box after 5-10 days of heroin-exposure, and displayed a maximum withdrawal symptoms on 2d after heroin- withdrawal. During all statges of heroin-dependence, the NAc electrical activity contained the highest proportion of delta rhythm and the lowest proportion of alpha2 rhythm. The discharge frequence band was similar across different stages. There was a significantly increased ratio of low-frequency discharges (delta rhythm) and decreased ratio of high-frequency discharges (beta rhythm) in NAc of rats during the immediate post- heroin exposure stage when compared with that during pre-exposure and heroin withdrawal stages. During the withdrawal stage, the ratio of at rhythm was significantly lower than during pre- and post-heroin exposure stages (P < 0.01). Further, the mean discharge amplitude in NAcs during immediate post-exposure and withdrawal stages was significantly increased relative to pre-exposure stage. However, the mean discharge amplitude during heroin withdrawal stage was significantly lower than during immediate post-exposure stage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The electrical activity properties in rat NAcs showed a significant change during different stages of heroin-dependence, which suggested that neuronal activities in NAcs might contribute to the modulation of drug-dependence.</p>