RESUMO
Objective To study the effects of melatonin (MT) on hepatic tissue of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods AIH model rats were divided randomly as model group, MT group and pig hepacyte growth factor (pHGF) group, to observe the pathological changes of hepatic tissue of the three groups. Results Hepatic tissue inflammation and accrementition graded of elastic fibers, reticular fibre, collagenous fibrils of MT group [(0.97±0.16),(1.09±0.17),(1.31±0.17)] were much lighter than model group [(1.55±0.18),(2.00±0.14),(3.00±0.14)](all P<0.01). The expression of VEGF was weaker in MT group than in pHGF group. There was no distinct difference between MT group and pHGF group. Conclusion MT can obviously improve the pathological changes of hepatic tissue of rats with AIH.