ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the preventive effects of emilia sonchifolia on experimental hepatic steatosis in rats and its molecular mechanism.Methods Seventy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, model, high dose emilia sonchifolia, low dose emilia sonchifolia groups and high dose emilia sonchifolia + phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated protein kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) inhibitor (PD98059) group (PD group). In normal control group, the rats were fed with normal diet, and in the other four groups, the rats were fed with high fat and low protein diet combined with 30% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) peanut oil 2 mL/kg subcutaneous injection, once every 3 days for consecutive 3 weeks to establish animal models with hepatic steatosis. In emilia sonchifolia high and low dose groups, 5.0 g/kg and 2.5 g/kg doses of emilia sonchifolia were given respectively by gavage, once a day. In PD group, after administration of emilia sonchifolia high dose by gavage once a day, additionally PD98059 0.3 mg/kg was injected through a tail vein, once a week. After 3 weeks, all rats were switched to normal diet and treatment continued as before. At the end of the 5th week, liver tissues were taken for pathological analyses. The serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) were determinated by automatic biochenical analyzer. The positive cell count and protein expressions of sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), pERK1/2, toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) and high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) were tested by immunohistochemistry, Western Blot and flow cytometry. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) in liver cell homogenate were detected by hydroxylamine and TBA method.Results Compared with the model group, the lobular inflammation in high and low dose emilia sonchifolia groups and PD group was attenuated (1.50±0.53, 1.80±0.43, 1.20±0.42 vs. 2.30±0.48), and ALT, AST, TC, TG, SREBP-1, and MDA were significantly decreased, the decrease in high dose emilia sonchifolia group being the most significant [ALT (U/L): 51.91±6.95 vs. 66.50±12.15, AST (U/L): 125.70±5.62 vs. 147.10±10.52, TC (mmol/L): 1.79±1.04 vs. 2.81±1.08, TG (mmol/L): 0.87±0.55 vs. 1.17±0.67, SREBP-1: (30.60±5.56)% vs. (53.10±5.02)%, MDA (nmol/mg): 5.20±0.87 vs. 10.61±5.45,P 0.05]. While the above index values in PD group were close to those in high dose emilia sonchifolia group, showing that PD98059 had no impact on emilia sonchifolia's action.Conclusions Emilia sonchifolia can alleviate hepatic injury and attenuate lobular inflammation in rat experimental hepatic steatosis. Its mechanism is possibly related to the reduction of oxidative stress reaction, and SREBP-1 may be as a mediator involved in the action.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of quetiapine on the behavior and expression of pERK1/2 in chronic unpredictable stress(CUS) model rats.Methods 32 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n =8 for each group):control group,CUS group,CUS + QUE (5 mg/kg,L) group and CUS + QUE(10 mg/kg,M)group.The rats in control group were left undisturbed in their home cage for 28 days and the other groups were exposed to 28 consecutive days of CUS,then the rats in control group and CUS group were treated with 1％ DMSO in saline (5 ml/kg,intraperitoneal injection),the rats in CUS + QUE (L)group and CUS + QUE(M) group respectively treated with quetiapine (5 mg/kg)or quetiapine(10 mg/kg) for consecutive 7 days.The weight data of each group were recorded,and the behavioral changes in these rats were analyzed by open field test and forced swimming test;and the expression of pERK1/2 was measured by Western blot.Results (1)Compared with control group,quetiapine (10 mg/kg) ameliorated the inhibition of body weight gain that induced by chronic unpredictable stress (P ＜ 0.05),but quetiapine (5 mg/kg) did not have this effect.(2)Open field and Forced swimming test showed significant difference (P ＜ 0.05) of horizontal motion distance (F =17.846),the number of central region entering(F=4.720) and the immobility time(F=26.090) in each group.And these tests showed that horizontal motion distance and the number of central region entering in CUS group ((6696.30 ±1061.19)mm,(19.63 ±9.15)times) were significantly lower than that of control group ((10824.61 ± 1399.37) mm,(37.75 ± 13.02) times) and CUS + QUE (M) group ((9637.51 ± 1630.16) mm,(32.38 ± 6.23)),while the immobility time (110.73 ± 15.98)s were significantly higher than that of control group((66.13 ± 5.18)s)and CUS + QUE (M) group((73.40 ± 11.99) s,P ＜ 0.05).But there was no significant difference between that of CUS group and CUS + QUE(L) group(P＞0.05).(3)The expression of pERK1/2 in CUS group showed significant decrease when compared with control group or CUS + QUE (M) group,but showed no significant difference with CUS + QUE(L) group(F=6.641,P＜ 0.01).Conclusion Quetiapine can ameliorate depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic unpredictable stress,and this effect may be carried out by up-regulation the expression of pERK1/2 in the hippocampus.
ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of ziprasidone on the behavior and the expression of pERK1/2 in posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) model rats.Methods 24 adult male SD rats weighing (200 ±20) g were randomly divided into four groups (n =6):control group,single prolonged stress and foot shock (SPS&S) group,ziprasidone group and ziprasidone + U0126 group.The fear response to environment,high alertness,and anxiety & depression behavior of rats were tested by the open field,elevated plus-maze,and the expression of pERK1/2 was measured by Western blot.ResultsIn open field test(OFT),the SPS&S group( (76.23 ± 54.76) cm for horizontal motion distance,(4.60 ± 1.14) for the number of entering central region) showed significant difference compared with control group ( (343.77 ± 74.22 ) cm,( 12.40 ± 3.36 ) ) or ziprasidone group ( ( 274.98± 83.56) cm,( 12.00 ± 2.92) ) (P ＜ 0.01 ),but showed no significant difference with ziprasidone + U0126 group ( ( 138.14 ± 41.98) cm,(5.00 ± 1.58) ) (P ＞ 0.05 ).The results of elevated plus maze (EPM) were in accordance with the results of OFT.The expression of pERK1/2 in SPS&S group and ziprasidone + U0126 group showed significant decrease when compared with control group or ziprasidone group (P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionZiprasidone can obviously improve fear response to environment,high alterness and anxiety & depression behavior of rats,and these effects of ziprasidone may be carried out by up-regulation the expression of pERK1/2.